Narration

Question 1

narration

Answer 1

• determines the way a film “regulates our access to a fluctuating field of information”
• process by which story information is made available to us via the plot
• refers to the manner in which those story events are presented to us
• involves not just what plot presents, but also how it does, style is central to its operations(regulates knowledge)
• ongoing process, dynamic
• links narrative + style

Question 2

unrestricted narration

Answer 2

-spectator’s knowledge exceeds that of a single character and thereby encompasses multiple characters, lines of action, types of information

Question 3

restricted narration

Answer 3

-spectator’s knowledge is limited to that of a single character

Question 4

subjective narration

Answer 4

• linked to interiority and/or a character’s particular vantage
• POV shots, internal sound, flashbacks, timbre (how we hear them)

Question 5

objective narration

Answer 5

• linked to exteriority and/or a disembodied perspective

- disembodied: not associated with any body, distance vantage

Question 6

communicative and uncommunicative narration

Answer 6

• degree of info provided, how forthcoming it is with info
• communicative: when information is readily offered up
• uncommunicative: when information is withheld

Question 7

self-conscious narration

Answer 7

• extent to which the film through narration tells its recognition of the audience
• Extreme signaled by overt demonstration of power to supply info
• moment when act of narrating brings attention to itself
• directly addresses us, sometimes us alone
• unself-conscious: invisible, doesn’t draw attention

Question 8

Analyzing film narration

Answer 8

• considering three factors: knowledge, communicativeness, and self- consciousness
• move betw. the various modes since diff. methods of distributing story information will suit the film’s purposes better at different times
• analysis can happen diff. scales: on whole film, separate scene, can trace flow of info from 1 shot to the next

Question 9

Knowledge

Answer 9

-pertains to how much and what kind of information the narration provides, and it is typically described in terms of range and depth

Question 10

Range of narration

Answer 10

-continuum from restricted-unrestricted

Question 11

Depth of narration

Answer 11

-subjective/objective

Question 12

Communicativeness

Answer 12

• degree to which the narration willingly supplies information when it can be made available
• communicative/uncommunicative

Question 13

Hitchcock: surprise vs. suspense

Answer 13

• LS: we see guy putting bomb under desk, wait for it to go off=suspense
• MS: we don’t see the bomb until it is about to go off or goes off=surprise

Question 14

Disparity of Knowledge

Answer 14

• distribute knowledge unevenly

- how much do we have?