Narrative- Black Rose
The definition of narrative as a ‘chain of events in a
cause-effect relationship occurring in time’ can be applied to my AS piece ‘Black
Rose’, a psychological thriller opening based on a mentally disturbed patient
out on patrol. Huge hints thoughtfully planted in place reveal her back story
of criminal acts towards children. From this, the opening focuses on how this
obscure back story will lead on to further events of gruesome and sinister crime
by our female protagonist Natalie. Once evaluating this and thinking about the
narrative involved in this piece it became clear that the conventions of ‘narrative’
made up of Propp, Barthes, Levi Straus and Todrov revolved quite similarly
around my AS piece and seemed to fit quite nicely into place.
Our group discussed the matter of creating and effective
diegesis so that it would be significant in making the narrative of our
production that much stronger. The diegesis is the internal world created by
the story that the characters themselves experience and encounter. The internal
world that is said in the diegesis is created through our protagonist, Natalie.
Natalie’s secret hideaway, the eerie woods in which she walked and the numerous
flashbacks that shows the audience her disturbed past reveals that this, and
through Natalie the internal world is created. Vladimir Propp’s theory of
Narrative is clearly used throughout. His theory includes how characters take
on the role of narrative ‘spheres of action’ or functions. As of this theory,
Natalie fits as the role of the villain and that there are clear cut intentions
to commit crime throughout the opening sequence. The Doctor plays the role of
the hero seeing as he is speaking directly to the audience when stating, “He was
one of the few that got to look into her disturbed mind” and that, “Natalie is
one of the most deranged patients I have encountered yet”. As of this he has
tried to stop the evil within the villain. This therefore concludes that Propp’s
theory is correct and shows a main focus in our film opening.
A very effective way in which we produced our film was with
the use of Barthes’ idea of semiotics, which conveys symbolist messages throughout.
The title ‘The Black Rose’ its self is key in prophesying the narrative to
later come, seeing as a red rose displays love, but instead the rose is black
and displaying a evil and twisted nature. Almost how good is turning evil. The
colour correct used throughout to make the footage blue is also another example
of trying to display this cold and twisted feel to the piece to the audience
viewing. As of this the codes and convention of Barthes’ semiotics is another
main attribute alongside the idea of binary opposites of good and evil seen to
be the leading factor of narrative by Levi Strauss. Although the battle between
good and evil is subtle throughout it is a strong underlying feature that holds
the main body of the narrative together, seeing as the doctor (hero) is trying
to overcome the evil inside Natalie (villain). Although Strauss’ theory isn’t the most
important in comparison to both Barthes and Propp’s it is still evident that
binary opposites are included within the ‘Black Rose’.
The opening of the ‘Black Rose’ holds another technique that
furthers the narrative of the piece. Flashbacks used gives the narrative a less
linear feel seeing as it adds dimensions and layers into the story and plot.
Todrov expresses how narratives are usually a structure of five stages,
starting from the equilibrium and going through a series of events of
disruption before finally returning back to the equilibrium state. Throughout
the Black Rose opening, it begins as an equilibrium when she is working in a
flower shop on parole. But as the sequence progresses the old habits’ of evil
and criminal tendencies begin to come back and through this the opening is
setting up a clear path to future disruption. A clash between good and evil.
Theorists came significantly into play when regarding the
three stages of research, planning and constructing of the physiological film
opening. When planning the film opening
we came to the conclusion that we needed to have strict and significant
character styles in place which were also key in showing a conflict they have
to defeat. All the theorists shown above show features that have proved
essential to make the narrative as strong as possible.
