Narrative Techniques.

Narrative is telling a story, for instance tv, radio, films and forums. It is a sequence of events that are organised into a story with a particular structure.


Narration: How the story is shown on the screen/told.


Forms of Narrative: 
Story - The events in the narrative that are explicitly presented and the ones that the viewer infers. These events occur in chronological order. Story can also be referred to as 'Fabula'.


Plot- Plot is used to describe everything visually and audibly present in the film before us. This is the way the story is told throughout the text, and may include non-chronological order and flashbacks. Another way of referring to the plot is 'Syuzhet'. 


Techniques:
Linear
The linear narrative is a storyline in which is shown in chronological order, therefore it progresses from beginning, middle and end. 


Non-Linear
The non linear narrative is a storyline in which is not shown in chronological order, therefore it can include flashbacks. This technique is used to heighten suspense, drama and intrigue and to engage the audience. Non - linear is a process of revealing the story by not showing the events in chronological order but by revealing the events in a way that carefully controls the information the audience receives. This means the revelations are very dramatic. An example of this is Pulp Fiction:

Omniscient
In the Omniscient Narrative we know everything in which is happening. This narrative is not just tied to one character, therefore the audience knows more than the characters in the story.


Restricted
Restricted narrative is where the narrative is tied to only one character, therefore the audience only sees 'one side' of the story. We do not know everything. This helps to elaborate on their feelings. An example of this is in Taxi Driver (1976), Robert De Niro plays mentally unhinged cab driver Travis Bickle. Throughout the film, the camera follows this character and no one else. The effect is that all we know is what Travis knows, and nothing else.

When a movie is filmed by the point of view of only one character making it so that we know only as much as him or her.


Enigma code: The code is associated with the French narrative theorist; Roland Barthes. His theory refers to the mystery or question that is established in a narrative, normally towards the beginning, for instance an example of a question could be; who is the murderer?