Task 3 - Narrative Structure

Linear (Sequential) Narrative

 A linear narrative is when events in the story happen from start to finish in chronological order. They tend to focus on the present event happening in the story and tend not to use flashblacks or flash-forwards. linear narritives are the most popularly used. They are used in films such as "Toystory" and soaps such as "corination street"

Non-linear (Non-sequential) Narrative

  A non-linear narrative can be discribed as a disjointed narrative. It is when events in the story don't happen in chronological order. They are more likely to have flashbacks and flash forwards throughout the film. A good example of these are the CSI films when they will show flashbacks of the crime.

Flashback

A flashback takes the narrative back from the current point in the story by showing a scene that has been shot to interprut a past event in the narrative. When flashbacks are used in television and film, camera techniques and special effects are usually used to show the viewer that a flashback has occurred (such as fade in). This helps to show the change and stops the audience from becoming confused. Reality televison programmes such as Geordie shore sometimes use flash black to show events that have happened in the previous episodes. Film such as 'the notebook' and 'Titanic' are told in full flashback.

Realist Narrative

Realist narratives are narratives that have storylines believable / "real" to the audience or they are based on a true story that has happened in the past. Realist narratives are regularly used in soap such as emmerdale and corination street as the characters are based on real people and the events that happen in real peoples lives. It is also used often in horror films such as "the exorcism of Emily Rose". This makes the audience more scared as they feel as if it has happened before in the past.

Anti-Realist Narrative

An anti-realist narrative is a ficitonal narrative and the events in it wouldnt happen in real life. For example the advert for 3 network earlier this year when it displayed a pony moon walking this is anti-realist as ponys do not moonwalk in real life. Films also use anti-realist narratives especially animated films such as "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs".

Open Narrative

An open narrative is where the story is left wide open with no real end. This keeps the viewer wanting more and wanting to know what happens next. This is mostly used in soaps to keep the audience hooked. Eastenders is the most famous for this as at the end of every episode it is left at a cliffhanger and the theme tune kicks in.

Closed Narrative
  A closed narrative has a beginning, middle and end like a stereotypical story. The audience will expect an ending as closed narratives are the most common in film. Most films use closed narratives such as "romeo and juliet" and "titanic"