Media Theories: NARRATIVE

A series of different facts and how they are put together describes narrative.

Story is the substance of a text, whereas narrative is the way the story is related to the audience.

• Open narratives are continuous and run like soap operas (where the story never comes to an end).  They have to accomodate new and existing audiences and characters.

• Closed narratives have a defined beginning, middle and end. 

Todorov's Theory of Narrative:

• equilibrium - everything is normal in the lives of the characters
• disruption of the equilibrium
• recognition of the disruption
• attempt to repair disruption
• equilibrium once more

Todorov's Theory of Narrative runs as a linear/conventional closed narrative; where the film won't end until the problem is resolved.

• Fractured narratives are when the jumps back and forth in time vis flashbacks or flashforwards.  The viewer has to piece the plot together.

• Forking paths are juxtapose alternate versions of a story, showing the possible outcomes that might result from small changes.

• Episodic narratives are a number of different episodes that are joined together.

• Split screen narratives show different character's perspectives/plot points.