Learning objective:
To identify narrative structure in media texts.
Key terms:
Back story - This is part of the narrative and may be the experiences of a character or the circumstances of an event that occur before the action or narrative of a media text.
It is a device that gives the audience more information and makes the main story more credible.
Suspend disbelief - here, the audience may be aware that where they are positioned by the camera, for example, is impossible, but they do not challenge and instead believe it because it enhances their involvement in the story.
All media texts whether they are fact or fictional, print or audio visual, have a narrative structure.
The producers of media texts employ a range of narrative techniques to develop the story arc and hold the attention of the audience.
Manipulation of time and space - the narrative can move the audience around within a given time frame. For example, a crime drama may employ a non linear narrative where it starts with the discovery of a crime and then moves back in time to show the lead up to the crime.
See the TV series Columbo for example.
Three strand narrative - this is the most common form of narrative structure whereby three different story lines are introduced in the beginning and then these narratives interweave throughout the programme.
Some will begin and end in one episode, others will continue on. In this way both loyal and one off viewers gain some pleasure from the programme.
Flexi narrative - this is a more complex narrative structure that is consequently more challenging for an audience. Here the narrative is made up of a series of interweaving story lines involving more complicated scenarios and plot situations. There will often be narrative twists and enigmas until the final exposition.
Flashbacks - these are often used to give the audience the backstory and can serve to develop the audience understanding of a character or their motivation within the storyline. Audiences are given clues when time and space are being manipulated, for example a change in clothing, iconography or the style of the filming.
Point of view shot - this helps to involve the audience in the narrative as they view the action from the point of view of a particular character.
Audience positioning - this is where the camera or audio codes place the audience in a particular position. This may more literally as a murderer stalking a victim or emotionally as where the music may cause the audience to feel tense or sad.
Apparently impossible position - this is another type of audience positioning wherby the camera places the audience in an unusual position to view the action. For example, viewing the operating table from the ceiling in a hospital drama. Audiences will suspoend disbelief if their involvement in the narrative is enhanced.
Privileged spectator position - here the audience is involved in the narrative as the camera shows them what the other characters cannot see. This allows the audience to anticipate how the story will unfold.
Enigma codes - these are evident in both audio visual and print based media texts.
They are a way of restricting narrative information given to the audience, the purpose being to make the audience watch or read on. For example, the use of teaser trailers that divulge minimal narrative clues is a main technique in film production.
Action codes - something a character does allows the audience to anticipate how the narrative will develop. For example, the writing and delivering of a letter giving important information.
Audio:
Voice over - this can be used in certain media texts to fill in gaps in the narrative or give clues to what the audience might expect from the storyline, for example in a film trailer.
Dialogue - a converstion between two characters fro example can be a rapid way of filling in background information and establishing character motive within the narrative. Dialogue may also serve to to give the audience expectations about how the narrative will unfold. Selected sound bites of dialogue are used in film and television trailers to give clues to the narrative.
One type of music video is the narrative music video.
Here, the performer's aim is to take the audience through the story of their music in some of the following ways:
Filming and editing that tells the story featured or suggested in the lyrics. This narrative may surprise the audience by giving a different interpretation than the one most obviously suggested in the lyrics.
The construction of a narrative that may involve the performer playing themselves or a character that they have created. Alternatively, the artist may not appear and the characters in the story may all be actors.
The creation of a narrative that is like a mini film. The production values may be high depending on the previous success of the band or performer. It may have a clear linear structure or may be a series of of seemingly unrelated narrative events.
A narrative that may contain enigmas which maintain the attention of the audience.
Stereotypical representations of characters that communicate the story effectively to the audience.
Elements of intertextuality.
Music videos can use well known narratives as a framework for the video and can establish clear stereotypes using this method.
Task 1:
Deconstruct the narrative within the video embedded below using the correct terminology.
To identify narrative structure in media texts.
Key terms:
Back story - This is part of the narrative and may be the experiences of a character or the circumstances of an event that occur before the action or narrative of a media text.
It is a device that gives the audience more information and makes the main story more credible.
Suspend disbelief - here, the audience may be aware that where they are positioned by the camera, for example, is impossible, but they do not challenge and instead believe it because it enhances their involvement in the story.
Intertextuality - Using one text within another. For example, the use of a fairy tale within a music video. Gwen Stefani uses the narrative features of Rapunzel in her music video The Sweet Escape.
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All media texts whether they are fact or fictional, print or audio visual, have a narrative structure.
The producers of media texts employ a range of narrative techniques to develop the story arc and hold the attention of the audience.
Narrative techniques in audio visual texts
Manipulation of time and space - the narrative can move the audience around within a given time frame. For example, a crime drama may employ a non linear narrative where it starts with the discovery of a crime and then moves back in time to show the lead up to the crime.
See the TV series Columbo for example.
Three strand narrative - this is the most common form of narrative structure whereby three different story lines are introduced in the beginning and then these narratives interweave throughout the programme.
Some will begin and end in one episode, others will continue on. In this way both loyal and one off viewers gain some pleasure from the programme.
Flexi narrative - this is a more complex narrative structure that is consequently more challenging for an audience. Here the narrative is made up of a series of interweaving story lines involving more complicated scenarios and plot situations. There will often be narrative twists and enigmas until the final exposition.
Narrative conventions in audio visual texts
Flashbacks - these are often used to give the audience the backstory and can serve to develop the audience understanding of a character or their motivation within the storyline. Audiences are given clues when time and space are being manipulated, for example a change in clothing, iconography or the style of the filming.
Point of view shot - this helps to involve the audience in the narrative as they view the action from the point of view of a particular character.
Audience positioning - this is where the camera or audio codes place the audience in a particular position. This may more literally as a murderer stalking a victim or emotionally as where the music may cause the audience to feel tense or sad.
Apparently impossible position - this is another type of audience positioning wherby the camera places the audience in an unusual position to view the action. For example, viewing the operating table from the ceiling in a hospital drama. Audiences will suspoend disbelief if their involvement in the narrative is enhanced.
Privileged spectator position - here the audience is involved in the narrative as the camera shows them what the other characters cannot see. This allows the audience to anticipate how the story will unfold.
Enigma codes - these are evident in both audio visual and print based media texts.
They are a way of restricting narrative information given to the audience, the purpose being to make the audience watch or read on. For example, the use of teaser trailers that divulge minimal narrative clues is a main technique in film production.
Action codes - something a character does allows the audience to anticipate how the narrative will develop. For example, the writing and delivering of a letter giving important information.
Audio:
Voice over - this can be used in certain media texts to fill in gaps in the narrative or give clues to what the audience might expect from the storyline, for example in a film trailer.
Dialogue - a converstion between two characters fro example can be a rapid way of filling in background information and establishing character motive within the narrative. Dialogue may also serve to to give the audience expectations about how the narrative will unfold. Selected sound bites of dialogue are used in film and television trailers to give clues to the narrative.
Music videos - the narrative music video.
One type of music video is the narrative music video.
Here, the performer's aim is to take the audience through the story of their music in some of the following ways:
Filming and editing that tells the story featured or suggested in the lyrics. This narrative may surprise the audience by giving a different interpretation than the one most obviously suggested in the lyrics.
The construction of a narrative that may involve the performer playing themselves or a character that they have created. Alternatively, the artist may not appear and the characters in the story may all be actors.
The creation of a narrative that is like a mini film. The production values may be high depending on the previous success of the band or performer. It may have a clear linear structure or may be a series of of seemingly unrelated narrative events.
A narrative that may contain enigmas which maintain the attention of the audience.
Stereotypical representations of characters that communicate the story effectively to the audience.
Elements of intertextuality.
Music videos can use well known narratives as a framework for the video and can establish clear stereotypes using this method.
Task 1:
Deconstruct the narrative within the video embedded below using the correct terminology.
Elements of intertextuality. Taylor Swift's music video for her song You Belong With Me uses the Cinderella story and establishes clear stereotypes of American high school teenagers and a 'femme fettle'.
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Narrative conventions in print based texts
Print texts can also have a narrative structure. In this format, narrative refers to the codes and conventions that are recognisable to audiences as belonging to that text.
These include:
Headlines - in quality newspaper the headline gives information about the story that is to follow. In the popular press these may be more dramatic than informative. the purpose of both is to encourage the audience to read on.
Cover lines - in magazines these appear on the front cover and suggest the content. They usually contain enigmas and the audience has to buy the magazine to get the full story.
Images and captions - the purpose of images used in print based texts is usually to suggest or develop a narrative. The caption that accompanies the image interprets the meaning for the audience. For example, advertisements use images and copy to place us within a particular, often aspirational, narrative in order to persuade us to buy the product.
Language and mode of address - this can give information about the genre and what the audience might expect. The written information on the back of a DVD cover will encapsulate the narrative of the text, often using genre specific language in order to draw the audience in.
Enigma codes - these are also a feature of print texts. They appear in taglines, headlines and cover lines. Their purpose is to restrict the narrative - the audience have to access the text in order to read the whole story.
The narrative of a newspaper can be discussed in terms of the structure of the publication.
The audience for the text will have an expectation of the this structure and what appears where; this will have been built up over time.The narrative commences with the front page which tends to have a conventional house style and a brand identity which remains consistent for that newspaper and is recognised by the audience. This is then followed by the regular placing of other internal pages.
The narrative is also conveyed through:
Language and mode of address:
The mode of address of The Independent is formal, colloquialisms and slang are rarely used.
There is often use of subject specific lexis elated to a story or feature and an expectation that the reader will understand this. For example, 'Call for amnesty on illegal immigrants.'
Content:
The Independent is less concerned with gossip stories related to the rich and famous and more concerned with news and current affairs. the lighter aspects of the paper will focus on lifestyle and arts. Often the newspaper will have an ongoing narrative related to a particular story and will include follow up reports.
The front page:
This is instrumental in establishing the overall narrative of the paper. Through its front page stories it will set out the agenda of the newspaper and what the reader can expect. It will set out the agenda of the newspaper and what the reader can expect. It will also use narrative devices such as enigmas, these are evident in the headlines and subheadings and encourage the reader to buy the newspaper to find out the rest of the story.
The Images:
In newspapers the images also have a role in developing the narrative. They give the audience a visual depiction of the story and can capture a moment in time effectively.
This is particularly true with regard to news stories where the reader has not experienced the event first hand and has to rely on the newspaper report for their information. The caption that accompanies the image anchors it and mediates the image and therefore the story for the audience. This constructing of the narrative can manipulate the readers response to the story. Images in newspapers can be very dramatic and can often tell a story much more effectively than words.
This is done with consideration given to the visual and technical codes.
The Masthead - is in a strong, large, blocked font with connotations of stability and reliability.
the use of the colour red signifies power and is dramatic and eye catching. The suggestion pf power is further enhanced by the logo of the bird of prey delivering the paper.
The central image - of a fertilised egg cell is large and thought provoking and is typical of the style of this newspaper in that it is also enigmatic and takes up most of the page.
It is unusual not to personalise the story, further suggesting the concentration on serious, ground breaking stories.
The headline and sub heading - anchor the image and explain its relevance. Although not essentially dramatic, the headline is portentous or significant.
The use of the word our makes the story relevant to the reader.
Enigma - is used ; babies with three parents.
The copy - associated with the main story is relatively dense for a front cover and uses technical and specific lexis: 'legislation to allow the use of mitochondrial replacement could be passed by parliament ...' the expectation is that the reader will understand or want to find out more about this story, signifying the target audience and their concerns.
The plug/puff - focuses on food and drink. The expectation is the reader will recognise Gordon Ramsay and understand the intertextual headline. the other plug items refer to punch and the 10 best rose wines. This suggests a middle class target audience.
The secondary stories - remain with serious news items including Leveson and the funeral of James Gandolfini, the star of The Sopranos. The subheading 'Back to Homs' assumes the readers will know that this is about the Syrian conflict.
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The Newspaper Industry and Narrative
The narrative of a newspaper can be discussed in terms of the structure of the publication.
The audience for the text will have an expectation of the this structure and what appears where; this will have been built up over time.The narrative commences with the front page which tends to have a conventional house style and a brand identity which remains consistent for that newspaper and is recognised by the audience. This is then followed by the regular placing of other internal pages.
The narrative is also conveyed through:
Language and mode of address:
The mode of address of The Independent is formal, colloquialisms and slang are rarely used.
There is often use of subject specific lexis elated to a story or feature and an expectation that the reader will understand this. For example, 'Call for amnesty on illegal immigrants.'
Content:
The Independent is less concerned with gossip stories related to the rich and famous and more concerned with news and current affairs. the lighter aspects of the paper will focus on lifestyle and arts. Often the newspaper will have an ongoing narrative related to a particular story and will include follow up reports.
The front page:
This is instrumental in establishing the overall narrative of the paper. Through its front page stories it will set out the agenda of the newspaper and what the reader can expect. It will set out the agenda of the newspaper and what the reader can expect. It will also use narrative devices such as enigmas, these are evident in the headlines and subheadings and encourage the reader to buy the newspaper to find out the rest of the story.
The Images:
In newspapers the images also have a role in developing the narrative. They give the audience a visual depiction of the story and can capture a moment in time effectively.
This is particularly true with regard to news stories where the reader has not experienced the event first hand and has to rely on the newspaper report for their information. The caption that accompanies the image anchors it and mediates the image and therefore the story for the audience. This constructing of the narrative can manipulate the readers response to the story. Images in newspapers can be very dramatic and can often tell a story much more effectively than words.
This is done with consideration given to the visual and technical codes.
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Analysing the front page of a newspaper. The Independent.
Learning objective: To analyse the front page of a modern newspaper.
Key terms:
Splash - The story that is given the most prominence on the front page of a newspaper.
Sister paper - One that is published by the same company and has links to other papers in the brand.
The Masthead - is in a strong, large, blocked font with connotations of stability and reliability.
the use of the colour red signifies power and is dramatic and eye catching. The suggestion pf power is further enhanced by the logo of the bird of prey delivering the paper.
The central image - of a fertilised egg cell is large and thought provoking and is typical of the style of this newspaper in that it is also enigmatic and takes up most of the page.
It is unusual not to personalise the story, further suggesting the concentration on serious, ground breaking stories.
The headline and sub heading - anchor the image and explain its relevance. Although not essentially dramatic, the headline is portentous or significant.
The use of the word our makes the story relevant to the reader.
Enigma - is used ; babies with three parents.
The copy - associated with the main story is relatively dense for a front cover and uses technical and specific lexis: 'legislation to allow the use of mitochondrial replacement could be passed by parliament ...' the expectation is that the reader will understand or want to find out more about this story, signifying the target audience and their concerns.
The plug/puff - focuses on food and drink. The expectation is the reader will recognise Gordon Ramsay and understand the intertextual headline. the other plug items refer to punch and the 10 best rose wines. This suggests a middle class target audience.
The secondary stories - remain with serious news items including Leveson and the funeral of James Gandolfini, the star of The Sopranos. The subheading 'Back to Homs' assumes the readers will know that this is about the Syrian conflict.
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Task 1:
Answer the following question in your orange books:
Why is it important that the genre of the newspaper is recognisable through for example, the front page?
Task 2:
Analyse the front cover of the i newspaper which was published on the same day as the above text.
Why is it important that the genre of the newspaper is recognisable through for example, the front page?
Task 2:
Analyse the front cover of the i newspaper which was published on the same day as the above text.
Consider:
- Layout and design
- Masthead
- Sister paper
- Slogan
- Price
- Story topics
- Central image
- Positioning of audience
- Brand identity
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