Fundamentals of Narrative

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The subject provides FAMU International

Contents

Various facets of narratology will be discussed, that is the study of narrative and narrative structure, and the ways that these affect human perception. Students will become familiar with 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. The class will try to dig deep into the seemingly simple concepts of time, space, and character. A few approaches to the analysis of the texts (feminist, semiotic) will be discussed, as well as few theories based on the archetypes (Campbell, Hudson Propp), and chronotope (Bakhtin). A few lectures will focus on TV series and the specific narrative techniques they are using. The class will discuss adaptation between various media and talk about how the change of the medium may influence the story. All in all, students will understand as much as possible how the narratives work, which is necessary for being able to create one.

Classes will be discussion-based, instead the teacher delivering the lectures. Students are expected to prepare regularly for the class, there will be reading for each week, and occasionally students may be required to watch the film or episode of TV series. There will be also assignments, even if some of them will be not written, rather would require students to come up with some ideas, think about various ways how the story may be manipulated, come up with their own plot for one particular story, etc.

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

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Literature

Aronson, Linda. The 21st century screenplay: a comprehensive guide to writing tomorrow's films. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin, 2010. pp. 45–60.

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.

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

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 (25 %)
• Final essay (25 %)
• 5 assignments (each for 10 %)

Note

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Further information

No schedule has been prepared for this course

The subject is a part of the following study plans

• Academy Preparation Program - Screenwriting (Required subjects)