Narrative

Narrative Terms:

Linear: linear narratives follow a straight line — starting at the beginning, moving to the middle and proceeding to the end of the story

Non-linear: a non-linear narrative often starts at the middle of a story or the height of a conflict and then double-backs to the beginning. Another, albeit more challenging, non-linear narrative form employs flashbacks and “flashforwards” to keep the reader on his toes as the writer tells the full story.

Circular: circular narrative is a narrative that has certain plot points repeated. we see this demonstrated in many modern films, such as Fight Club and Swordfish.

Parallel Narrative: a parallel narrative is two narrated parts of a story set in the same place and same time.

OMNISCIENT NARRATIVE:

Other films give audiences a God-Like perspective. In these films we see much more than the main characters. We see events that they don’t and might be aware of others plotting against them This is referred to as an omniscient narrative.

RESTRICTED NARRATIVE :

If a director really wants us to feel part of the film’s narrative, they can add to this feeling by giving us a restricted narrative viewpoint. In a restricted narrative the audience only get to know as much as the characters do. This way we are as puzzled as they are and have to work out what is going to happen as the film goes along, just as they do.

Flash back/ flash forward: A vision of the past or a vision of the potential future

Real time: a narrative technique whereby events are depicted as occurring entirely within the span of and at the same rate as the depiction

Reversal: narrative is played backwards

Narrative paragraph

In the music video 'Like a Prayer' by Madonna, there are elements of both a linear narrative and non linear narrative. The music video first begins with a non linear narrative due to the vast amounts of short cuts we see. Madonna can be seen running, yet the audience does not yet know why. A cut to the start of some sort of story can be seen as Madonna appears to be a witness to the scene of a crime. A man is then arrested by the police and taken away, whilst the real attacker hides away which Madonna notices.  This links to what Madonna may be running from, as she seeks refuge in the church. This could even be seen as a flashback as as Madonna hits the floor, this is the moment the start of the narrative begins.  The linear narrative is due to the fact that even though the story is of a mixed sequence, there is still a clear beginning, middle and end to the video. The start being Madonna witnessing a crime, the middle being her seeking refuge in the church and falling in love, and the ending being the fact she saves the male who was wrongly arrested.

In the music video ' Judas' by Lady Gaga, the narrative is more hard to determine. This is due to the diverse scenes in the video. The narrative itself is based on a a past love experience of Gaga's which she interprets by the story from a biblical background. The video has a relatively restricted narrative, as the audience only knows as much as the main character (Lady Gaga) does. It is very hard for the audience to predict or know what is going to happen, and this is why restrictive narratives are used ( to gain the interest of audiences).  The narrative appears to be more linear than non-linear as the scenes seem to flow in terms of a beginning, middle and end without referring back to other scenes.