MS4 responses - Explore the narrative structure of your three main texts

Explore the narrative structure of your three main texts

Knee jerk reaction - MAINLY TYPICAL, MAD MAX ATYPICAL (however, it can also by argued that Fury Road has a completely conventional and straightforward narrative structure. Just make sure that you get across your own opinion!)

Plan

Patriarchal hegemony
equilibrium
Metanarrative
Character types
Conventional/un
Binary oppositions
Barthes - action and enigma
Repetition and difference (genre)
Diegesis

Introduction - DAC

(Definition) Narrative is the way in which a story is told. The ways in which a story is told can give the audience clues as to the ideology of the producer. (Argument) I shall argue that the narrative structure of my chosen films is generally typical and conventional with one exception. I shall also argue that the narrative structure of my chosen texts has been deliberately selected to manipulate the ideology of the target audience. (Context) In order to explore this argument, I shall be analysing Spectre (Mendes, 2015), an action/spy film, the 24th in the James Bond franchise, The Selfish Giant (Barnard, 2013), a social realist film set in Bradford, and Mad Max: Fury Road (Miller, 2015), an action/apocalyptic hybrid film.

Spectre - Madeline is rescued

• Typical narrative structure for an action film/Bond film
• Dialogue - "do I have a choice?" "not any more" - Stereotypical masculine character role reinforces Propp's character archetypes. Madeline established as the Princess. Conventional narrative structure.
• Lack of dialogue - conventional of action film narrative
• Fast paced editing functions as an action code
• MES bomb timer action film convention/paradigm/iconography
• MES helicopter symbolic of the villain, a binary opposition, the underdog James Bond vs the powerful and resourceful villain
• MS of the MES of red ropes typing Madeline down. A binary opposition between the feeble victim and the capable man. This emphasises the ideology of a patriarchal society, where women are oppressed and men are superior.
• Metanarrative - a story about a story. Consistent reference to Goldenye, the rescue of Natalia. Spectre's narrative structure is sloppy and confusing, however, with the audience's knowledge of the Bond franchise, the film makes perfect sense. Additionally, a foreign villain, sex scenes with exotic Bond girls, exciting car chases.

The Selfish Giant - The police arrive

• The Selfish Giant, narrative typical of social realist film. Many similarities with Kes (Loach, 1969). 
• MS of Arbor using mobile phone, MES of tatty sofa, conventional of the social realist genre. Demonstrates the protagonist's disrespect for the police.
• "Take your shoes off, then" establishes a binary opposition between the working class and the police.
• LA shot looking up police officer emphasises disgust for the working class. Establishes the police as the antagonist. This is in stark contrast to the positive re4presentation of the police in Spectre.
• Stereotypical representation of a working class family
• Appearance of police a powerful action code, connoting trouble, conflict and issues for arbor's family.
• The narrative structure of The Selfish Giant presents the working class as inferior and oppressed by a powerful ruling class.
• The final enigmatic shot of Arbor stroking the horse emphasises the open nature of the narrative, reinforcing the issues that the working class face in society

Mad Max Fury Road - Max vs Furiosa 

• Mad Max Fury Road is a consistently unusual and eccentric film, using a number of postmodern features.
• Unconventional characters - wife staring in to distance - "is it a furious fixation"? functions as an enigma code for the already confused audience
• MES of water hose demonstrates unconventional female empowerment. Women are the protagonists, a subversion of patriarchal hegemony
• Low angle close up of Furiosa putting gun to Max's head and attempts to kill him. Pleonastic sound of trigger emphasises her character's murderous intent, stereotypically masculine. Low angle shot positions the male target audience in an uncomfortable and challenging position
• Lack of conventional non-diegetic soundtrack emphasises that Max is the villain of this scene. Soundtrack is highly unconventional, comprising mainly of intense, atonal drum beats.
• Miller's ideology - subverts the norm that men are more powerful than women

Thanks P block for these responses!