Fundamentals of Narrative

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Subject guarantor

Petra DOMINKOVÁ

Name of lecturer(s)

Petra DOMINKOVÁ

Department

The subject provides FAMU International

Contents

The course Fundamentals of Narrative will not teach you how to write a script per se; however, it may significantly help you do so. We will discuss various facets of narratology – that is, the study of narrative and narrative structure – and the ways in which these affect human perception. Students will become familiar with key terms such as story, plot, narrative, narration, focalization, and others that are widely used in scholarly literature. Understanding these concepts is crucial for comprehending how a script works and what influences spectators’ perception.

We will take an in-depth look at seemingly simple concepts such as time and space, and the chronotope (Bakhtin). One lecture will be devoted to television series and the specific narrative techniques they employ. Overall, the aim of the course is to understand how narratives function, which is essential for being able to create one.

Classes will be discussion-based; rather than traditional lectures, we will primarily explore themes collectively. Students are expected to work regularly, with assigned assignments and/or readings each week. .

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will:

• Be able to discuss various facets of narratology, that is the study of narrative and narrative structure, and the ways that these affect human perception.
• Understand the terms such as story, plot, narrative, narration, focalization, etc. that are widely used in the literature and their understanding is crucial for comprehending how the script works and what may influence the spectators’ perception.
• Understand the deeper meanings of seemingly simple concepts of time, space, and character.
• Be able to discuss the specific narrative techniques TV series are using nowadays.
• Be able to apply all that knowledge in your own creative work.

Prerequisites and other requirements

Course Requirements:

Class Attendance/Participation: I expect students to attend all classes. If a student is sick or has another duty (e.g. needs to be present on the shooting), s/he needs to apologize to the professor ahead of, otherwise, the absence is treated as unexcused. A student with extensive absences, i.e. five and more (whether excused or unexcused) may fail the course.

Participation in class discussion will be taken into account in the final grade. Participation means a meaningful contribution in the classroom, utilizing the resources and materials presented to students as part of the course. Students are required to actively, meaningfully, and thoughtfully contribute to class discussions and all types of in-class activities throughout the class. Meaningful contribution requires students to be prepared, as directed, in advance of each class session.

The use of electronic devices is not allowed unless it is explicitly required by the professor (that may happen in some specific situations). Students are expected to take notes by hand unless the student is entitled to the use of a computer due to his/her academic accommodations. In such cases, the student is required to prove the need.

Midterm essay: Students themselves will choose the topic for the paper – students should analyze the film (or the episode of TV series) while focusing on any topic connected to the narratology. Besides that, almost everything is allowed – students may compare two or more films, focus on one particular aspect of narration (say, voice-over narrator, or time), or may analyze the narration in the film as such. Students may choose any film they wish, just need to inform me ahead, in case the films chosen is not the one we have seen in class. Papers have to be typed and will be turned in Google Classroom; https://classroom.google.com/c/Mzk3MzQ1NzI1Mzg5?cjc=ip6debp) The due date is not negotiable. All sources (films, books, articles, interviews, websites, AI, etc.) have to be cited: any time student quotes or paraphrases someone else’s work she/he has to give her/him credit, otherwise, it is understood as plagiarism, that is unacceptable and will cause student failing from the assignment and may lead to failing from the overall course as well.

AI policy:

Permitted AI Use

•  Correcting grammar, typography, sentence structure, and similar aspects of written assignments.
• Supporting preliminary or exploratory stages of coursework, such as brainstorming, outlining, summarizing, or generating inspiration. AI may not be used to produce final deliverables (essays, reports, etc.).
• Assisting with the overall structure of an essay or presentation.
• Suggesting titles for essays, subchapters, or presentation slides.
•  Providing general overviews to guide your own work (e.g., “I need to write an essay on costume—what aspects should I consider?”; “When analyzing camera movement, which elements should I focus on?”). AI use on specific films is strictly prohibited (e.g., “Write something about the costume in the Czech film Girl America”).
• Generating lists of potentially relevant sources (must always be verified).
• Explaining terminology (e.g., “What is the difference between plot and story?”; “How do zoom-in and track-in shots differ on screen?”).

Prohibited AI Use

• Producing final deliverables such as essays or reports. All wording and ideas of all written assignments and presentations must be your own.
• Writing about specific topics and/or films (e.g., “Write something about costume in the Czech film Girl America”).
• Generating quotations from sources. AI often invents quotes, misattributes them, cites incorrect page numbers, or presents them out of context.

The essay will have 1.400 words (about 5 pages double-spaced) minimum. Due: Apr 14

Assignments: There are altogether nine various assignments that students will fulfill during the term – they are clearly explained below, in weekly schedule, and will be even more explained in the classes themselves. If student cannot be present in the class, s/he can still fulfill the assignment by sending a 1-page paper to the professor before the class. None of the assignments (with the exception of midterm essay) has to be written, however, it is expected the students will create a short presentation for assignments no. 3, 6, 7, and 9.

Assessment and final grade:

The final grade will be calculated as follows: Class Attendance and Participation (23 %); midterm essay (23 %); 9 assignments (each for 6 %)

Literature

ll materials are available at https://classroom.google.com/c/Mzk3MzQ1NzI1Mzg5?cjc=ip6debp

Obligatory:

Bordwell, David. ”Mutual Friends and Chronologies of Chance.” Poetics of Cinema. New York and London: Routledge, 2008. 189-250.

Branigan, Edward. “The Point of View Shot.” Movies and Methods, vol. II. Ed. by Bill Nichols. Berkeley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press, 1985. 672-691.

Mittell, Jason. Complex TV : the poetics of contemporary television storytelling. New York: New York University Press, 2015.

Recommended:

Aronson, Linda. The 21st century screenplay : a comprehensive guide to writing tomorrow's films. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin, 2010.

Bordwell, David, and Kristin Thompson. Film Art. An Introduction. (11th Edition.) McGraw-Hill, 2017.

Dancyger, Ken, and Jeff Rush. Alternative Scriptwriting: Successfully Breaking the Rules. Amsterdam: Elsevier/Focal Press, 2007.

Propp. Vladimir. Morphology of the Folktale. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2009 (20th Edition).

Evaluation methods and criteria

The final grade will be calculated as follows:

Class Attendance and Participation (23 %)

midterm essay (23 %)

9 assignments (each for 6 %)

Course web page

https://classroom.google.com/c/Mzk3MzQ1NzI1Mzg5?cjc=ip6debp

Note

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Schedule for winter semester 2025/2026:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2025/2026:

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The subject is a part of the following study plans

• Academy Preparation Program - Screenwriting (Required subjects)