UNIT 22 Undertake research to develop an understanding

UNIT 22 Undertake research to develop an understanding of narrative structures of advertisements, infomercials and promotional productions Jess O’Hara

Linear (Sequential) A narrative is a story that includes plot, characters, setting, climax and resolution. Linear narratives present stories in a logical manner by telling what happens from one point in time to the next without using flashbacks or flash-forwards and then returning to the present.

Non-Linear (Non-Sequential) Nonlinear narrative, disjointed narrative or disrupted narrative is a narrative technique, sometimes used in literature, film, hypertext websites and other narratives, where events are portrayed, for example, out of chronological order or in other ways where the narrative does not follow the direct causality pattern of the events featured, such as parallel distinctive plot lines, dream immersions or narrating another story inside the main plot-line. It is often used to mimic the structure and recall of human memory, but has been applied for other reasons as well.

Flashback A flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point in the story. Flashbacks are often used to recount events that happened before the story's primary sequence of events to fill in crucial backstory. Flashbacks are used to cohere a story, develop a character, or add structure to the narrative. In literature, internal analepsis is a flashback to an earlier point in the narrative; external analepsis is a flashforward to a time before the narrative started. In film, flashbacks depict the subjective experience of a character by showing a memory of a previous event and they are often used to "resolve an enigma". Flashbacks are important in film noir and melodrama films. In movies and television, several camera techniques, editing approaches and special effects have evolved to alert the viewer that the action shown is a flashback or flashforward; for example, the edges of the picture may be deliberately blurred, photography may be jarring or choppy, or unusual coloration or sepia tone, or monochrome when most of the story is in full colour, may be used. The scene may fade or dissolve, often with the camera focused on the face of the character and there is typically a voice-over by a narrator, who is often, but not always, the character who is experiencing the memory.

Realist Narrative A realist narrative aims to present the viewer with a 'real life' feel. Realist narratives are used to make the audience feel they are watching something believable and realistic.

Anti-Realist An advert that is situated in a world that is different form our reality, it can feature such things as talking animals or surreal storylines. These adverts can also seem dreamlike through the special effects and CGI used.

ENDINGS

Open An open ending is when a film or a show ends with no clues of what is going to happen next. it keeps the story unresolved so that it can keep the audience interested in the story.

Closed A close ending is when a TV show or a film end with no confusion, meaning that it ends without making the audience think of what might happen next, no ambiguity.