ABSTRACT
Narrative analysis seeks to unearth patterns and structures beneath the surfaces of texts, and examines how the meanings of stories arc affected by the sequencing of events and the aesthetic style in which formal elements are presented. It considers the audience's active construction of meaning via inferences based on textual clues and evidence. This chapter introduces classical three-act narrative structure, such as fragmented narratives, multi-strand narratives and classical narration, and demonstrates how to use a structuralist approach to analyse the ideological implications of the opposing forces present in screen narratives. It distinguishes between closed-ended film narratives driven by action and conflict and the more open-ended, segmented, character-driven domestic concerns of television narratives. The chapter explores how storytelling styles are becoming increasingly complex in response to technological developments and the reciprocal influence of television, film and interactive digital media.
