Narrative Flashcards
Bordwell:
Narrative is the depiction of a _______ of ________in ________ & _______relationship, occurring in _______ & ______.
chain; events; cause; effect; space; time
Narrative always involves __________
change
Characters are the most common ________ of _________
agents of change
Other than humans, what or who can be an agent of change?
Natural disasters; animals & supernatural phenomena/beings
The story is the events as they….
would occur chronologically (‘what happens’)
The plot is the events as they….
are shown in the film (‘how we are told’)
Plot time usually _______________ story time
compresses (shortens)
Name two ways in which story time is compressed in film
Editing within and between scenes; Montage; speeding up the film
Name two ways in which story time is expanded in film
Slow motion; repetition; multiple perspectives
Traditional narrative structures tend to be________________, from the POV of the _____________ , have a ___________ structure and a clear____________
chronological; protagonist; 3 act; resolution
A gap in story time created by editing is called….
ellipsis
A flash back is also known as an
analepsis
A flashforward is also known as a
prolepsis
Name the three aspects of story time, which may be manipulated by a filmmaker
Temporal order, frequency & duration
___________________ is how the audience is positioned to sympathise with a character via proximity
alignment
___________________ is how the audience is positioned to sympathise with a character via shared values & beliefs
allegiance
narratives are often told from a ________of ________ which aids in spectator positioning
point of view
Binary oppositions create____________ which help to drive the narrative forward
conflict(s)
Narrative conflicts provide an opportunity for__________
resolution
Filmmakers will often ___________ spectators on ______ ______ of a binary opposition
one side
Although they can be very entertaining and successful, especially in genre films, binary opposites tend to present conflict in ____________ terms.
simplistic
Match the theorist:
Claude Levi-Strauss
Binary oppositions
Match the theorist:
Tzvetan Todorov
Structure
Match the theorist:
Vladimir Propp
Character roles
Match the theorist:
Roland Barthes
Enigma & action codes
Match the theorist:
David Bordwell
Cause & effect
Name Propp’s main character roles
Hero, villain, princess, father, donor, helper, false hero
Two alternative terms for hero & villain?
Protagonist & antagonist
The princess must be female - TRUE or FALSE
False - the point is that the princess can be anyone who is in need of rescue, who may also be a prize or reward. Equally, the hero does not have to be male!
What is meant by equilibrium?
It is the status quo (things as they are, good or bad) at the start of the narrative
The resolution of a narrative, apart from providing an end to the narrative, also offers a ‘lesson’ which is tied to_____________
Ideology - messages and values which confirm a particular world view
As well as being embodied in conflict between actual characters, binary oppositions are often _____________ or ____________, or both!
Thematic: good vs evil
Representational: Young vs old
