Narrative: blog task

 NARRATIVE

Read Media Factsheet 14 - Telling Stories: The Media's Use of Narrative and answer the following questions:

1) Give an example from film or television that uses Todorov's narrative structure of equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium. 

Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit (Parks and Box: 2005) is an example of a new equilibrium since they overcame all the obstacles at the end with a resolution.;

2) Complete the activity on page 1 of the Factsheet: find a clip on YouTube of the opening of a new TV drama series (season 1, episode 1). Embed the clip in your blog and write an analysis of the narrative markers that help establish setting, character and plot.

https://youtu.be/vw1zSt_39-I  - DAHMER.

Temporal marker-We know that the scene has been taken during the night due to the lack of sunlight from the kitchen window, this is certain because the apartment is very dimly lit(low-key lighting)suggesting that it is very dark outside.

Geographical marker-We know that the series is filmed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the USfirstly because of the thick american accent and secondly because of the news which shows an reporter on the TV giving us information on what is going on.

Historical marker- The text is from the 1970s we know because during that time manyblack men were accused of crimes which they did not commit, also during that time serialkillers were a common issues people faced in America.

Character marker-We know that the character is a serial killer based on the utensils shown during the kitchen scene. We can see him wipe the blood of the knives acting like nothing has happened. We also know this from the neighbour who is listening to Dahmer through the vents which anunusual expression on her face.

Generic marker-The audience can know that they are watching a thriller/horror series fully based on the tag that comes up on the left corner of the screen if watching on Netflix which is the shows main source of income.

3) Provide three different examples from film or television of characters that fit Propp's hero character role.

FAST AND FURIOUS: Vin Diesel is probably more appropriate as a hero in an action film.

 SCRUBS: Whereas Zach Braff is more believable as a romantic/comedy hero.

LORD OF THE RINGS: Frodo is the hero, he seeks Mount Doom in order to destroy the                                                         ring.

4) Give an example of a binary opposition.

The winner often represents the dominant ideas and values of our culture. When the policeman captures the criminal in a crime drama– the ideology of the value of law and order is emphasised.

5) What example is provided in the Factsheet for the way narratives can emphasise dominant ideologies and values?

Depending on the genre, particular emotions are generated by the narrative. Audiences feel:

• Fear in a horror narrative

• Excitement in an Action narrative

• Empathy, sympathy and/or identification in a soap or drama

narrative

• Suspense and tension in a thriller narrative

The climax provides the emotional high spot. It is usually the most thrilling, funny or horrific moment in the text. 

The Resolutions provide comfort and reassurance especially when good wins over evil.The resolution is the reward the audience receives at the end of the emotional journey the narrative has taken them on.

6) Why do enigma and action codes (Barthes) offer gratifications for audiences?

 Enigma codes, this narrative technique is used by mystery writers who want the reader to keep on guessing who committed the crime until the final reveal at the end of the story.

Action codes,writers create a pleasing sort of tension by making the audience wonder how the event will be resolved. Will the criminal evade capture during the car chase, and will the protagonist defeat the boss and save the world?

7) Write a one-sentence summary of the four different types of TV narrative:

• Episodic narrative (the series)-These are fictions which have many parts but where the narrative arc is usually resolved at the end of each episode.
• Overarching narrative (the serial)-Each episode begins with a summary of what occurred in previous episodes in case the audience missed a part.
• Mixed narrative-Some texts use both structures;this structure rewards the loyal viewer as larger stories take time to be resolved but the casual viewer can enjoy the text’s individual episodes.
• Multi-strand overlapping narrative (soap narrative)-These have a continuous narrative and they tell a number of different stories at the same time.

8) How does the Factsheet suggest adverts use narrative?  

In advertising the idea of the problem and resolution is crucial.Often adverts set up a problem (bad breath) and then immediately offer the solution (buy their toothpaste) to create a swift resolution(fresh breath).