An Introduction to Narrative
What is a
narrative?
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The structure of chain of events in which a story is told.
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The narrative structure is carefully considered when
writing the screenplay for a drama
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It is visually achieved through the editing of different shots together.
Why is a
narrative important?
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The narrative
structure chosen directly affects how the audience experiences the
story.
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The way a ‘story’ is told can provide certain messages and values about who
we see and what is being said about the character, group of people or events
represented in the drama.
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The narrative can affect the audience’s involvement with and enjoyment of a drama.
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The narrative
structure used in long form TV drama is considered to be more complex, often with multiple narrative strands
and storylines being told at the same time.
Narrative structure
Linear
narrative
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A clear beginning, middle and end.
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They follow a chronological timeframe.
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Action A leads to action B which leads to action C
etc.
Fragmented
narrative
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Fragmented narratives are also called non-linear,
disrupted or disjointed narratives.
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They do not have a clear beginning, middle and end.
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Events or actions may be shown out of chronological
order and not in the way they would naturally occur in.
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It is a narrative technique that can help to show
parallel stories, as story within a story, dreams and so on within the same
episode or series.
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They are seen to more closely replicate the way the
human mind works.
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They make the audience participate in the story to try
and piece the story together.
What narrative structure does Stranger Things use?
Stranger things is a multi-stranded, fragmented, open ended,
non-linear narrative.
‘Stranger Things’ uses a fragmented
narrative because right from the start we witness multiple parallel plot lines such as the laboratory,
Eleven, and the boys. We also see a non-chronological
narrative strand in the flashback to Joyce and Will’s conversation at
Castle Byers.
The fragmented narrative creates
enigmas or questions for the audience, who have
to work to figure out the connections, therefore ensuring greater audience engagement.
Narrative types
Restrictive
Narrative
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We experience the story through the sense and thoughts
of just one character.
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This is most always the main character (protagonist).
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The narrative cannot tell the audience things that the
main character does not know, we find things out in the story at the same time
as the character.
Omnipresent
Narrative
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A panoramic, all seeing, view of the world of the
story, not just on character’s POV.
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Provides the point of view of many characters and
their experience and feelings within the story.
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Helps the audience see a broader background to the
story, from a number of contexts.
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Used for telling stories in which the context, views
and feelings of many characters are important.
What narrative type does Stranger Things use?
The omnipresent narrative provides
multiple gratifications for the audience- we can
empathise and identify with
some characters, while gaining escapism and
mystery from others.
Narrative endings
Closed
endings
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TV dramas traditionally feature one characters story
or point of view in an episode, which comes to a resolution at the end of the
episode.
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The character’s story can exist as one unique story in
one episode.
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A story is unravelled before an audience, and then
ultimately concluded.
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The following episode will feature a different story.
Open
endings
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When an episode, or season, ends on a cliff-hanger.
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A story-telling technique
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In films open endings can be unsatisfying for
audiences.
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In LFTVD open endings indicate there will be a
continuation of the story throughout the series.
