Film (image) analysis
joshlau020125
BIS161ASP19_W1.pptxBIS 161A Introduction to Film Narrative
SPRING 2019
University of Washington Bothell
Samuel Yum
Goals for a quarter…
to develop skills and demonstrate…
a critical understanding of the shaping power of narrative on point of view and character identification
a critical understanding of the historical changes in approaches to film narrative, and the way cultural and ideological values are embedded in film narrative
Goals for a quarter… (2)
a critical understanding of the distinctions between story and plot, and the functioning of causality, time, and space in film narratives
an understanding of the functions of character, point of view, and setting in film narratives
an ability to work collaboratively within a small group setting to advance the above learning goals
narrative film
What is it?
A form of popular entertainment
A narrative that tells a fictional story
The presentation of a story affected by both cultural differences and when it was produced
An art form influenced by less conventional approaches and emerging technologies
Just because a film is constructed from footage documenting actual events doesn’t mean it can’t tell a story.
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Films, movies, cinema…
the most popular art form today – not just viewed in theaters
TiVo, big-box retailers, and Redbox machines
online, cable, and satellite channels
streaming video, computers
televisions
iPads, smart phones, personal devices
other systems not yet imagined
Films, movies, cinema…. (2)
essentially interchangeable terms
cinema – from the Greek kenesis (movement) - often implies art films (eg, “French Cinema”)
film – from the original celluloid strip media
movie – short for motion pictures or “moving images
motion or movement is the essence of the medium
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Cinematic language
the visual vocabulary of film
composed of various integrated techniques and concepts
connects the viewer to the story while deliberately concealing the means by which it does so
Active viewing
recognize the many tools and principles that filmmakers employ to tell stories, convey information and meaning, and influence emotions and ideas
understand movies as narrative, as artistic expression, and as a reflection of the cultures that produce and consume them
W1 feature…
The Kid
Charlie Chaplin, 1921, 53 min
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Basic construction
shot – an unbroken span of action captured by an uninterrupted run of a motion-picture camera
editing – the joining together of discrete shots
with each transition from one shot to another, a movie is able to move the viewer through time and space
What is narrative?
a cinematic structure in which the filmmakers have selected and arranged events in a cause-and-effect sequence occurring over time
narrative movie – generally a feature fiction film, as opposed to other movies modes, such as documentary or experimental
narration – the act of telling the story
narrator – who or what tells the story
What’s in a narrative?
general features...
narrator
characters
structure
story v. plot
plot order, events
setting, scope
What’s in a narrative? (2)
other narrative elements
duration
exposition
suspense v. surprise
repetition
NARRATOR – POV from which story is told or unfolds; who or what tells the story
primary narrator – always the “camera”
other types…
first-person – typically a voice-over but may address the audience directly
third-person – a voice imposed from outside the narrative
omniscient – has unrestricted access to all aspects of the narrative and characters, as well as information that no character knows
restricted – information limited to the knowledge of a single character
First-person – typically a voice-over but may address the audience directly
Third-person – a voice imposed from outside the narrative
Omniscient – has unrestricted access to all aspects of the narrative and characters, as well as information that no character knows
Restricted – information limited to the knowledge of a single character
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CHARACTERS – actors/agents who participate in the story/plot of the narrative
essential feature of virtually every film narrative: character pursues a goal
types of characters…
dynamic or round characters – more lifelike, with complex personalities that may change as the story progresses
static or flat characters – few distinct traits and do not change significantly as the story progresses
Two essential elements of virtually every film narrative are a character pursuing a goal.
Round characters – more lifelike, with complex personalities that may change as the story progresses
Flat characters – few distinct traits and do not change significantly as the story progresses
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CHARACTERS (2)
protagonist – the primary character pursuing the goal
antagonist – the person(s), creature, or force responsible for obstructing the protagonist
anti-hero – an unsympathetic protagonist chasing a less than noble goal
imperfect character in a narrative – has obstacles, character development, and character motivations
Protagonist – the primary character pursuing the goal
Antagonist – The person(s), creature, or force responsible for obstructing the protagonist
Anti-hero – an unsympathetic protagonist chasing a less than noble goal
Imperfect characters in a narrative – have obstacles, character development, and character motivations
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NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
most narratives structures can be broken down to:
beginning (Act I) – sets up the story and establishes the normal world
middle (Act II) – longest section that develops the story
end (Act III) – resolves the story
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generally, conventionally speaking...
DRAMATIC ARC
generally, conventionally speaking...
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STORY and PLOT
story – all of the explicit and implicit narrative events in the movie and the diegesis, or total world in which the movie occurs
plot – the specific actions and events and the order in which the events are arranged to convey the narrative to the viewer, including the nondiegetic elements
these concepts overlap and intersect with one another in every movie
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PLOT ORDER and EVENTS
plot order – a fundamental decision filmmakers make about how to relay story information
events – happen in a logical order and their relative significance to the story defines them as either major or minor (secondary)
these concepts overlap and intersect with one another in every movie
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SETTING and SCOPE
setting – the time and place in which the story occurs
scope – the overall range, in time and place, of a movie’s story
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