EXAM-NARRATIVE

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.