Narrative

What is meant by narrative in film/television?

What have key theorists suggested is important when considering narrative?

Bordwell and Thompson define narrative as a chain of events I a cause-effect relationship occurring in time.

Elements of narrative:

Diegesis- 

• The internal world created by the story that the characters themselves experience and encounter 

Story and Plot- 

• Story- all events referenced both explicitly and inferred (including backstory as well as those projected beyond the action)
• Plot- the events directly incorporated into the action of the text and order in which they are presented 

Narrative range- 

• Unrestricted narration- A narrative which has no limits to the information that is presented i.e a news bulletin.
• Restricted narration- Only offers minimal information regarding the narrative i.e thrillers

Narrative Depth- 

• Subjective character identification- the viewer is given unique access to what a range of characters see and do. 
• Objective character identification- the viewer is given unique access to a character's point of view such as seeing things from the character's mind, dreams, fantasies or memories.

Theories:

Propp- Character is a function of narrative he called them 'spheres of action' or function. He broke all characters down into seven types:

• The hero- not always the protagonist. 
• The villain
• The donor- gives the hero something
• The helper
• The princess (the victim)
• The dispatcher- can be seen as a father figure 
• The false hero