Linear
A linear narrative structure is where the plot of the film is connected throughout the film and the scene is played in chronological order where there is an equilibrium, disruption, a realisation of disequilibrium, attempt to repair and a new equilibrium; this is known as the Torolov Theory. The plot of the film goes from point A to point B and the time of the film (past, present or future) stays the same, there’s no flashback in the film.
An example of a linear film structure is Iron Man (especially 2); throughout the Iron Man films, there is little or no flashbacks and the narrative structure of the film is linear and straight-forward. Iron Man 1 wouldn’t be a linear film because at the beginning of the film it shows Tony Stark being attacked then the scene goes back to before he was captured leading up to when he’s being attacked. Iron Man 3 would be considered to be a linear film as there is only a flashback scene which is at the beginning of the film. The chronological order in the Iron Man 2 film goes where Tony Stark is a famous man, then the villain attempts to build a weapon against Iron Man, then realisation is where Tony Stark is attacked by the villain and has toxic in his blood, the attempt to repair is where he tries to put a new element in his heart and to fight the villain and finally, the new equilibrium is where Tony and Rhodey both received a medal for fighting the villain.
Equilibrium
Disruption
Disequilibrium
Attempt to repair
New Equilibrium
Another example of a linear film structure is Avatar. The film has no flashbacks, and the plot of the film is not confusing, making it a linear film. The chronological order in this film is equilibrium where the main character controls an avatar which looks like the planets’ native creature, the disruption is where the company the main character works with wants to find more information about the creatures, then the realisation of disruption is when the company attempts to destroy the creatures' habitat, the attempt to repair is where the main character protects the creatures' habitat then finally, the new equilibrium is where the main character lives with the creatures.
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Equilibrium
Disruption
Disequilibrium
Attempt to repair
New Equilibrium
In my opinion, I think the narrative structure of linear is overall not effective because audiences will find watching a linear film boring and predictable. However, what makes linear film structure effective is that it would not confuse audiences and as the story is told in order, audiences would find it makes sense.
Non- Linear
A non-linear narrative structure is opposite to a linear narrative structure as it is where the plot of the film is not connected throughout the film. They are different to flashbacks because a non-linear film would sometimes be linear. In a TV show, a non-linear narrative would be where each episode would be aired in non-chronological order.
An example of a film that has a non-linear narrative is Pulp Fiction. They are a well known non-linear film because in Pulp Fiction, 3 different sections in the film that creates a story. At the beginning and the end of the film, it shows the same scene where it takes place in a diner and in the middle comes the main plot of the film.
Beginning
Ending
Another example of a TV show that has a non-linear narrative is Breaking Bad. In season 1, the show starts at the end, then after that the show was taken back before what audience saw in the opening and saw the opening again later towards the end of the show at season 5 where audiences are more informed what happened to Walter and understand the events leading up to the opening.
Beginning
Ending
In my opinion, I think the narrative structure of non-linear is overall not effective because audiences won’t know if the film is non-linear until the end and then it shows the audiences whether they pay any attention to the film. Since it is a non-linear film, audiences would not find the film logical and that it wouldn’t make any sense until the end of the film. However, what made this narrative structure effective would be a creative format because writers and producers have control as to the plot of the film/show, they can mislead the audience and make them believe something happened until the end.
Flashback
A flashback is where the film is the flashback of a character’s past in the film is shown. This is done so to fill the audience in about the characters information such as characteristics, past and the characters actions leading up to the present event. They are different from a non-linear film because a flashback will always be set in the past whereas a non-linear will be set in the past and future.
For example, in the TV show Orange Is The New Black, most episodes show a flashback of the character’s past. Throughout the episodes, at least 2 flashback scenes are shown; 1 scene in the episode sometimes shows the characters childhood and the other scene in the episode usually shows how the character ended up in prison. Showing flashbacks in Orange is The New Black tells the audiences the characters past and shows the audiences that some characters in the show are different then they were in the flashback.
Another example of a TV show with flashbacks is Brooklyn Nine-nine, most episodes show a flashback of what the character was talking about and refer to their past. It is a way for them to explain the flashbacks by cutting into the flashback when the characters look up. The flashbacks of the character refer to are usually funny and cut back several years.
In my opinion, I think this narrative structure of flashbacks is overall effective because audiences can understand the characters past and how the character's action builds up to the present. However, audiences may not like flashback as they want to focus on watching the main plot. I think when if I were to include flashbacks in a film, I would have to consider about the timing; I think it is the best time to insert flashbacks at the beginning of the film or when the tension of the film is not at its peak.
Realist
A realist is where the narrative of the film is realistic and believable, and sometimes the plot of a realist film or show is based on true story, or audiences can associate a realist film or show in real life. When filming for a realist film, the setting would usually take place at an outdoor location to create a realistic atmosphere for the audience. Any post-production effects are not likely to be included in a realist film as producers create what's viable.
An example of a realist TV show is Narcos. The show is based on a drug lord who gets his jail which is vast and empty as well as his football field. All of those in the show is also based on real life as the event of the show happened in real life as well as the characters.
Pablo Escobar in Narcos vs Pablo Escobar in real life
Another example of a realist TV show is The People Vs OJ Simpson. The show is also based on real life where it about a murder case that took place in 1997 and it’s also based on a book called “The Run of His Life: The People v OJ Simpson”. The show is a realist narrative because it is based on real life, the actors and scenes in the show as well as in real life are very similar, and there are little post-production effects included in the film.
The difference between the trial case in real life (on the left) and in the show (on the right)
Reference: Lang, K. (2017, May 11). Fact-Checking The People v. O.J. Simpson TV Show vs True Story. Retrieved from http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/people-v-oj-simpson/
In my opinion, I think the narrative of the realist is overall effective because a realist narrative can educate the audience on a true story in the form of a film or TV show. Audiences will learn something from watching a realist narrative film or TV show because it audiences can sometimes associate a scene in real life. However, because some realist narrative is based on true story, there's no creativity in the film or show as it’s all based on a true story. Therefore, audiences may find it a bit boring.
Anti-Realist
An anti-realist is opposite to a realist film narrative. It is where the narrative and the atmosphere of the film is not realistic where many post-production effects have been added. Audiences would not believe that it is realistic to create such effects. When filming for an anti-realist film, the setting would usually take place in a studio where there are green screens and equipment to create post-production effects.
An example of an anti-realist film is Doctor Strange, throughout the film (especially the middle and the end of the film), a lot of CGI and post-production effects has been added such as the magic effect the wizards can create and when Doctor Strange visited the dark dimension. The location is not realistic, such as the setting of Hong Kong where Hong Kong audiences would not believe the location is real.
Another example of a anti-realist TV show is the X-Men franchise films. When creating the film, a lot of post-production effort has been created especially for some of the mutants where the use their powers. The whole X-Men franchise is anti-realist because it is unrealistic for the audience to believe that mutants actually existed.
In my opinion, I think the narrative of anti-realist is effective because it allows the producers to be creative with doing creating post-production effects that not all producers can create. When the audience watches an antirealist film, it would put audiences’ in a different atmosphere and mood as the setting are less realistic. However, audiences would not find the film real and believable.
Open Ending
An open ending is an ending where it is vague and the audiences assume what the ending would be like. Sometimes a sequel would be release to reveal what happened in the first film.
An example of a film with the open ending is Thelma and Louise. It is a good example of an open-ended film because at the end, the two girls were attempting to drive across the cliff and the credits are shown, the audience does not know exactly what happens afterwards whether they fell off the cliff or made it across.
Another example of a film with open ending is Avenger Infinity War, at the end of the film most of the characters vanished leaving some characters alive. Audiences were not clear what happened to the vanished character or the characters still alive. It would be assumed that there will be a part 2 of Avenger Infinity War and there are already audiences predicting what the next film be like.
In my opinion, I think overall, open endings are effective because it leaves the audiences predicting what will happen and it may leave the audience excited wanting to watch the sequel if a sequel is set to be released. However, audiences may not liked open ended films because they might have to wait if a sequel is going to be released and audiences would not find the film satisfying if the film left the audience guessing the ending of the film.
Closed Ending
Closed endings is opposite to a open ended film, it is where the ending of a film is shown bring up a conclusion to the audiences as to what happened. The ending will either be a happy ending or a sad ending. The audience would be clear as to the ending and does not leave them confused. Like Linear film narrative, a film with closed ending also uses the Torolov theory where there is a new equilibrium.
An example of a film with a closed ending is usually Disney films like Cinderella, The Little Mermaid or Snow White where they went through the 5 stages of Torolov theory and the new equilibrium is where the main character became princesses and live happily ever after.
Another example of a film with closed ending is The Nice Guys. At the end of the film, the 2 main characters were drinking in a bar then the scene ends. The ending is happy and the new equilibrium is where the 2 main characters work together in a business on future cases.
In my opinion, I think overall closed endings are not as effective because when a film is finished and a sequel is set to release, the audience might find the next sequel too predictable and therefore not as much audience would want to watch the sequel than the original film. Unlike open-ended film, more audience would feel somehow satisfied with the ending of the film as the entire story of the film has been explained.