Visual Narrative Week 10

Before we begin Flash from now on You’ll be assigned groups in classes Encourage you to work with partner Get started designing second assignment ASAP It’s more about what you do before you touch Flash - planning, design, storyboard, etc. Flash from now on You’ll be assigned groups in classes Encourage you to work with partner Get started designing second assignment ASAP It’s more about what you do before you touch Flash - planning, design, storyboard, etc.

What is narrative? a way of telling a story a way of understanding the world Aristotle Poetics –Narratives need a beginning, middle and end –the peak of narrative tension should occur in the middle of the story –story should be about hero - the protagonist –tension is created by a conflict: conflict is embodied in the antagonist (the villain) –there needs to be a connection between the audience and the hero a way of telling a story a way of understanding the world Aristotle Poetics –Narratives need a beginning, middle and end –the peak of narrative tension should occur in the middle of the story –story should be about hero - the protagonist –tension is created by a conflict: conflict is embodied in the antagonist (the villain) –there needs to be a connection between the audience and the hero

Myths a cultural narrative - a narrative about life a narrative that can make sense of the seemingly inexplicable often a practical dimension structuralism - the way we think reflects the structure of our brains thus, myths can provide insight into what it means to be human. Eg: Carl Jung - studied stories we tell about ourselves in dreams a cultural narrative - a narrative about life a narrative that can make sense of the seemingly inexplicable often a practical dimension structuralism - the way we think reflects the structure of our brains thus, myths can provide insight into what it means to be human. Eg: Carl Jung - studied stories we tell about ourselves in dreams

Narrative structure Vladimir Propp: Morphology of the Folktale (1927) –Eight character typesEight character types –Six narrative stagesSix narrative stages Joseph Campbell: Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949) –The “Hero’s Journey”Hero’s Journey –Compare with Star WarsStar Wars Vladimir Propp: Morphology of the Folktale (1927) –Eight character typesEight character types –Six narrative stagesSix narrative stages Joseph Campbell: Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949) –The “Hero’s Journey”Hero’s Journey –Compare with Star WarsStar Wars

Three Act Structure Act 1: background/exposition (1/4) Act 2: plot development/confrontation (1/2) Act 3: triumph, resolution (1/4) Denouement Act 1: background/exposition (1/4) Act 2: plot development/confrontation (1/2) Act 3: triumph, resolution (1/4) Denouement

Alternatively… balance exposition complications crisis climax denouement new balance balance exposition complications crisis climax denouement new balance

Comments Three act structure is an ideal Four act structure? Five? Don’t be a slave to formula! How does this fit with video editing? How does this fit with final assignment? Three act structure is an ideal Four act structure? Five? Don’t be a slave to formula! How does this fit with video editing? How does this fit with final assignment?

Propp’s character types the hero the villain the donor the helper the princess her father the dispatcher the false hero the hero the villain the donor the helper the princess her father the dispatcher the false hero

Propp’s narrative stages: preparation complication transference struggle return recognition preparation complication transference struggle return recognition

Hero’s journey (1/3) Departure –The Call to Adventure –Refusal of the Call –Supernatural Aid –The Crossing of the First Threshold –The Belly of the Whale Departure –The Call to Adventure –Refusal of the Call –Supernatural Aid –The Crossing of the First Threshold –The Belly of the Whale

Hero’s journey (2/3) Initiation –The Road of Trials –The Meeting with the Goddess –Woman as Temptress –Atonement with the Father –Apotheosis (becoming God-like; gaining a special power) –The Ultimate Boon Initiation –The Road of Trials –The Meeting with the Goddess –Woman as Temptress –Atonement with the Father –Apotheosis (becoming God-like; gaining a special power) –The Ultimate Boon

Hero’s journey (3/3) Return –Refusal of Return –The Magic Flight –Rescue from Without –The Crossing of the Return Threshold –Master of the Two Worlds –Freedom to Live Return –Refusal of Return –The Magic Flight –Rescue from Without –The Crossing of the Return Threshold –Master of the Two Worlds –Freedom to Live