Narration Braningan

NARRATION

  • Representation of Events

    • Various methods to depict events in narratives.

    • Example: In "The Girl and Her Trust," Griffith employs cross-cuts between a handcar and a locomotive to create tension during a chase.

    • Comparison of Griffith’s choices and their impact on audience comprehension.

  • Editing and Shots Composition

    • The chase consists of 28 shots organized into 7 groups.

    • The direction of the chase changes visually across the shots: left, right, left, etc.

    • The filming emphasizes a linear chase, leading to a climax and resolution with reduced shots as events intensify.

NARRATIVE COMPREHENSION AND FILM

  1. Rhythm of Editing

    • Direction and proximity between the handcar and locomotive are visually represented, influencing audience perception of closeness and urgency.

    • Closure achieved by framing similar starting and ending positions, creating a sense of unity in the chase.

  2. Audience Expectations

    • Establishment of clear narrative schema leads to defined expectations:

      • Heroines’ objectives and conflicts are displayed clearly, enhancing viewer engagement through anticipation of outcomes like rescues and romance.

  3. Visual Spectacle

    • The alternating editing technique allows viewers a sense of omnipresence, sharing knowledge of character motives at critical points.

    • Griffith utilizes a rhythm of cuts that construct a fantasy of omniscience for the viewer.

UNDERSTANDING NARRATION

  • Two Fundamental Concepts

    1. How vs. What

      • Narration focuses on how events are presented, not just what occurs.

      • Important to understand the mechanics of storytelling and audience knowledge acquisition.

    2. Disparity of Knowledge

      • Narration arises from uneven knowledge among characters and the audience.

      • A basic structure of narration involves a subject in asymmetry to an object (e.g., characters and audience).

  • Types of Knowledge

    • Differentiating between procedural knowledge (knowing how) and declarative knowledge (knowing that).

    • Both forms are critical in narrative comprehension, shaping our understanding of characters and actions in the story.

  • Narrative Theories

    • Examination of different theories reveals how narrations regulate and distribute knowledge.

    • Various models identify the flow of knowledge through different media forms, affecting viewer comprehension.

HIERARCHIES OF KNOWLEDGE

  • Spectator's Position

    • Narratives often position the audience with superior knowledge when compared to the characters.

    • Suspense, mystery, surprise generated by knowledge disparities (e.g., Alfred Hitchcock's bomb scenario).

  • Complexities of Narration

    • Acknowledging how different levels of knowledge impact narrative unfolding

    • Comparisons made between spectator knowledge and character knowledge create unique emotional responses.

NICK FURY AS AN EXAMPLE

  • Comic Panels Analysis

    • Analyzes narrative flow through 16 panels of a Nick Fury comic book, exploring knowledge generation and viewer engagement.

    • Representation of knowledge oscillates between spectator and character, producing effects of suspense and mystery.

  • Narrational Breaks

    • Key panels illustrate shifts in character visibility and audience understanding of events, showcasing narration's dynamic nature.

FORGETTING AND REVISING

  • Comprehension Processes

    • Spectators frequently revise their understanding and perceptions, sometimes overlooking salient details due to comprehension mechanisms.

    • The transformation of spectator perception occurs through various narrative techniques that actively engage viewers, leading to modified representations of prior knowledge.