Chapter 7: The Nature of Narrative This multimedia product and its contents are protected under...

Chapter 7: The Nature of Narrative

Chapter 7: The Nature of Narrative

This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law:law. The following are prohibited by law:any public performance or display, including transmission of any image any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007

Elements of NarrativeElements of Narrative

The fictive stanceThe fictive stance Structure: story and plotStructure: story and plot

Plot: the way events are sequencedPlot: the way events are sequenced Story: all the events that make up the narrative Story: all the events that make up the narrative

in proper chronologyin proper chronology Plot is a subset of the storyPlot is a subset of the story

Narration and point-of-viewNarration and point-of-view


Authorship and Point of ViewAuthorship and Point of View

A film does not have a ‘sole’ authorA film does not have a ‘sole’ author Filmmaking is a collaborative actFilmmaking is a collaborative act

Real and implied authorReal and implied author

Point of view in cinema is typically third personPoint of view in cinema is typically third person Subjective shots can create brief, first-person Subjective shots can create brief, first-person

perspectiveperspective


The Classical Hollywood NarrativeThe Classical Hollywood Narrative

The prevalent narrative type in popular cinemaThe prevalent narrative type in popular cinema A main line of action with subplotsA main line of action with subplots The plot is activated by a main character pursuing The plot is activated by a main character pursuing

a goala goal One plot event follows another, as links in a chainOne plot event follows another, as links in a chain

A line of rising interest and tension as characters face A line of rising interest and tension as characters face obstacles to their goalsobstacles to their goals

At the conclusion, all story issues are resolvedAt the conclusion, all story issues are resolved Example: Example: The SearchersThe Searchers (1956) (1956)


Alternatives to the Classical Hollywood NarrativeAlternatives to the Classical Hollywood Narrative

Narratives may emphasizeNarratives may emphasize AmbiguityAmbiguity Minimal or implicit causalityMinimal or implicit causality Nonlinear narratives or ‘anti-narrative’Nonlinear narratives or ‘anti-narrative’

Example: last year at MarienbadExample: last year at Marienbad

Alternative designs often found inAlternative designs often found in Independent productionsIndependent productions Avant garde cinemaAvant garde cinema European and other foreign film traditionsEuropean and other foreign film traditions


The Viewer’s Contribution to NarrativeThe Viewer’s Contribution to Narrative

The search for patternThe search for pattern Stories activate the viewer’s desire to know Stories activate the viewer’s desire to know

‘what happens next’‘what happens next’ Viewers infer connections among story Viewers infer connections among story

events to complete the patternevents to complete the pattern ‘‘Meaning’ is not Meaning’ is not inin the film the film

The viewer helps create itThe viewer helps create it


Film GenresFilm Genres

The basic American film genres:The basic American film genres: The WesternThe Western The Gangster filmThe Gangster film The MusicalThe Musical The Horror film The Horror film Science FictionScience Fiction The War filmThe War film Film NoirFilm Noir


The WesternThe Western

The genre pre-exists cinema, emerging in The genre pre-exists cinema, emerging in late 19th centurylate 19th century dime novelsdime novels Puritan captivity narrativesPuritan captivity narratives the Leatherstocking Tales (1823-1841)the Leatherstocking Tales (1823-1841) painting (ethnographic studies, action scenes)painting (ethnographic studies, action scenes) theater theater


The WesternThe Western

Defined by period, setting, and themeDefined by period, setting, and theme The stories address contradictory cultural valuesThe stories address contradictory cultural values

the individual/communitythe individual/community violence/lawviolence/law wilderness/civilizationwilderness/civilization

The Western resolves these contradictions by The Western resolves these contradictions by suggesting that violence is necessary for the suggesting that violence is necessary for the preservation of communitypreservation of community


The Gangster FilmThe Gangster Film

Emerges as mature genre in early 1930sEmerges as mature genre in early 1930s Little Caesar (1930)Little Caesar (1930) The Public Enemy (1931)The Public Enemy (1931) Scarface (1932)Scarface (1932)

The classical structure portrays the ‘rise and The classical structure portrays the ‘rise and fall’ of a charismatic criminalfall’ of a charismatic criminal


Cultural Roots of the Gangster FilmCultural Roots of the Gangster Film

the Horatio Alger myth of successthe Horatio Alger myth of success classical narrative arcclassical narrative arc

19th century robber barons19th century robber barons the Great Depressionthe Great Depression ProhibitionProhibition Sound filmmakingSound filmmaking These elements combine to establish a These elements combine to establish a

critique of American societycritique of American societyCopyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007

The MusicalThe Musical

A new genre tied to the beginning of sound A new genre tied to the beginning of sound filmmaking ( filmmaking ( The Jazz SingerThe Jazz Singer, 1927), 1927)

Two figures dominate the 1930s:Two figures dominate the 1930s: Busby Berkeley (Warner Bros.)Busby Berkeley (Warner Bros.)

kaleidoscopic effectskaleidoscopic effects Gold Diggers of 1933Gold Diggers of 1933


MGM and the Freed unitMGM and the Freed unit

responsible for the great MGM musicals of responsible for the great MGM musicals of the 1940s and 1950sthe 1940s and 1950s

Freed collaborated with Vincente Minnelli, Freed collaborated with Vincente Minnelli, Fred Astaire, and Gene KellyFred Astaire, and Gene Kelly


The MusicalThe Musical

The genre descended from theater, vaudeville, The genre descended from theater, vaudeville, comedy sketches and songscomedy sketches and songs Thus, the stories are episodicThus, the stories are episodic

Narrative is slight, and it furnishes basis for song-Narrative is slight, and it furnishes basis for song-and-danceand-dance of all genres, the musical is least oriented toward of all genres, the musical is least oriented toward

narrativenarrative

Narrative gives way to a stylized fantasy of music, Narrative gives way to a stylized fantasy of music, movement, and color in the production numbersmovement, and color in the production numbers


The Horror FilmThe Horror Film

Silent era – Lon Chaney and the German Silent era – Lon Chaney and the German expressionistsexpressionists

Sound era:Sound era: Universal Pictures creates the classic movie Universal Pictures creates the classic movie

monsters:monsters: DraculaDracula FrankensteinFrankenstein The MummyThe Mummy The Wolf ManThe Wolf Man


Evolution of the GenreEvolution of the Genre

Universal Pictures (1930s)Universal Pictures (1930s) Atmosphere, suggestion, triumph of ‘normality’Atmosphere, suggestion, triumph of ‘normality’

Contemporary horrorContemporary horror Explicit gore and shock, triumph of the monsterExplicit gore and shock, triumph of the monster


Horror’s PurposeHorror’s Purpose

Horror films question ‘normality’ and Horror films question ‘normality’ and human identityhuman identity Reveal doubts & anxieties about what makes us Reveal doubts & anxieties about what makes us

humanhuman Deal with the question: What is required to Deal with the question: What is required to

remain human?remain human?


Science FictionScience Fiction

Roots in “trick films” of early cinema.Roots in “trick films” of early cinema. Did not emerge as major genre until 1950sDid not emerge as major genre until 1950s

Cold war emphasis on space travelCold war emphasis on space travel Anxieties about nuclear weaponsAnxieties about nuclear weapons

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) Them! (1954)Them! (1954)

Films expressed cold war anxietyFilms expressed cold war anxiety Invaders from Mars (1953)Invaders from Mars (1953) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1957)Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1957)

Popularity diminished in the 1960’sPopularity diminished in the 1960’sCopyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007


Speculative aspects vs. popular serialsSpeculative aspects vs. popular serials

Lends itself to Utopian visions, but few films Lends itself to Utopian visions, but few films actually fall into this categoryactually fall into this category Reflect back to us our anxieties about the presentReflect back to us our anxieties about the present

Powerful means for exploring anxieties about Powerful means for exploring anxieties about where our world is headingwhere our world is heading Grim and pessimistic viewGrim and pessimistic view Decaying environmentDecaying environment Antidemocratic governmental and corporate controlAntidemocratic governmental and corporate control



Dramatizes contemporary problems in different Dramatizes contemporary problems in different storylines that remain relevant to modern life.storylines that remain relevant to modern life. Example: I, RobotExample: I, Robot

Major FilmsMajor Films Silent Era Silent Era

Metropolis (1927)Metropolis (1927)

Sound EraSound Era 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Star Wars seriesStar Wars series Star Trek SeriesStar Trek Series Lord of the Rings SeriesLord of the Rings Series


The War Film The War Film

Begins in Silent and early Sound eraBegins in Silent and early Sound era The Birth of a Nation (1915)The Birth of a Nation (1915) The Big Parade (1925)The Big Parade (1925) All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

Hollywood joins the war effort in World War IIHollywood joins the war effort in World War II Flying Tigers (1942)Flying Tigers (1942) Burma! (1945)Burma! (1945) They Were Expendable (1945)They Were Expendable (1945) Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) Films show why war is fought, celebrate patriotism, and Films show why war is fought, celebrate patriotism, and

sacrificesacrifice Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2007


WWII Films usually show clear cut moral focusWWII Films usually show clear cut moral focus Subsequent wars give birth to ambivalent and Subsequent wars give birth to ambivalent and

critical opinionscritical opinions Film portrays this ambivalenceFilm portrays this ambivalence

Apocalypse Now (1979)Apocalypse Now (1979) Platoon (1986)Platoon (1986)

Ideology in the War Film is tied to the political Ideology in the War Film is tied to the political and social context surrounding a given warand social context surrounding a given war



Battle EpicsBattle Epics Bird’s eye viewBird’s eye view

Combat FilmsCombat Films Close-in viewClose-in view Concentrate on small groupConcentrate on small group Makes politics more distant, less relevantMakes politics more distant, less relevant

Home-front DramasHome-front Dramas Domestic sacrificeDomestic sacrifice

Submarine filmsSubmarine films

The War film Encompasses affirmation as well as The War film Encompasses affirmation as well as critiquecritique


Film NoirFilm Noir

Begins in 1941Begins in 1941 Citizen KaneCitizen Kane The Maltese FalconThe Maltese Falcon

Last classical NoirLast classical Noir Touch of Evil (1958)Touch of Evil (1958)

Classical period of Noir is tied to WWII and cold war.Classical period of Noir is tied to WWII and cold war. Sense of anxietySense of anxiety

Noir changes with introduction of colorNoir changes with introduction of color Neo NoirNeo Noir


Film NoirFilm Noir

Dark, pessimistic filmsDark, pessimistic films Stories of crime, often in urban settingsStories of crime, often in urban settings Flashbacks and voice-over narrationFlashbacks and voice-over narration Hero is often a victim in a web of crime and betrayalHero is often a victim in a web of crime and betrayal Strongly fatalistic, foredoomedStrongly fatalistic, foredoomed Hero is menaced by seductive but dangerous womanHero is menaced by seductive but dangerous woman

Femme FataleFemme Fatale


Film NoirFilm Noir

Key visual influence is German ExpressionismKey visual influence is German Expressionism Emphasizes shadows and darknessEmphasizes shadows and darkness Low-key lightingLow-key lighting Black and white emphasizes contrast and Black and white emphasizes contrast and

shadowsshadows NeonoirNeonoir

Introduction of color ends classical noir periodIntroduction of color ends classical noir period Soften shadows, weaken contrastSoften shadows, weaken contrast


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