An introduction to Narrative

An Introduction to Narrative

What is a narrative?

-         The structure of chain of events in which a story is told.

-         The narrative structure is carefully considered when writing the screenplay for a drama

-         It is visually achieved through the editing of different shots together.

Why is a narrative important?

-         The narrative structure chosen directly affects how the audience experiences the story.

-         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.

-         The narrative can affect the audience’s involvement with and enjoyment of a drama.

-         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

-         A clear beginning, middle and end.

-         They follow a chronological timeframe.

-         Action A leads to action B which leads to action C etc.

Fragmented narrative

-         Fragmented narratives are also called non-linear, disrupted or disjointed narratives.

-         They do not have a clear beginning, middle and end.

-         Events or actions may be shown out of chronological order and not in the way they would naturally occur in.

-         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.

-         They are seen to more closely replicate the way the human mind works.

-         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

-         We experience the story through the sense and thoughts of just one character.

-         This is most always the main character (protagonist).

-         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

-         A panoramic, all seeing, view of the world of the story, not just on character’s POV.

-         Provides the point of view of many characters and their experience and feelings within the story.

-         Helps the audience see a broader background to the story, from a number of contexts.

-         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

-         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.

-         The character’s story can exist as one unique story in one episode.

-         A story is unravelled before an audience, and then ultimately concluded.

-         The following episode will feature a different story.

Open endings

-         When an episode, or season, ends on a cliff-hanger.

-         A story-telling technique

-         In films open endings can be unsatisfying for audiences.

-         In LFTVD open endings indicate there will be a continuation of the story throughout the series.