Narrative

What is "Narrative":
A Narrative is the way a story is organised.

Elements of Narrative:
-Time
-Closure
-Enigma

Our video covers probably covers six years; capturing Edie Sedgewick at the peak of her modelling and film career to her drug abuse and finally her abruptive death at 28.
Unfortuately there is no closure at the end of our video because of Edie's death.
Our two main enigmas was Edie's drug abuse "why doesn't she stop?" or "why doesn't else stop her?" and Edie being caught up between Warhol and Dylan and choosing the wrong man in the end (Warhol) who wrecked her career, "Why did she choose Warhol over Dylan?"

Classical Hollywood Narratives:
-Linear
-Few, if any, sub-plots
-Tendency towards closure

Theories of Narrative:

1) Todorov
-Equilibrium
-Disruption
-Resolution
-New Equilibrium

Our narrative does have a Equilibrium at the beginning with Edie shopping and having a great relationship with Warhol. However her career and the introduction of Dylan is the disruption. Due to her abruptive death of a drug overdose however, there is no resolution and therefore no new equilibrium at the end.

Two good examples of this is "The Outlaw of Josey Wales" and "Blue Velvet"

2) Propp
-Analysed folk stories
-Eight character roles:

1)The Hero (protagonist)
2)The Villian (antagonist)
3)The Donor (provider)
4)The Helper
5)The Father Figure
6)The Dispatcher
7)The Princess
8)The False Hero

Narrative- Levi-Strauss and Binary Oppositions
-Argued that the structure of narratives was a dependence on binary oppositions
-A conflict between two qualities or terms
-These binary oppositions can form the basis of narrative
E.g. Male<->Female Young<->Old

E.g. Gender
Narratives can be organised through binary oppositions of gender stereotypes

Gender Stereotypes: Masculine
-Professional
-Strong
-Rational
-Competitive
-Independent
-Aggressive
-Ruthless
-Ambitious

Feminine:
-Domesticated
-Weak
-Emotional
-Co-operative
-Communal
-Passive
-Sensitive
-Supportive

The Western:

-Homesteaders Vs -Native Americans
-Christians -Pagan
-Domesticated -Savage
-Weak -Strong
-Feminine -Masculine
-Garden -Wilderness
-Inside society -Outside society

Our video has a main binary opposition which is male Vs female. We have steretypically created our characters the way they are in accordance to their gender. Therefore Edie Sedgewick is seen as weak, vunerable, emotional and passive whereas Warhol in particular (amongst many men in her life) is strong, dominating, ambitious and ruthless at times.