1. ASSIGNMENT 6: SIMPLE FILM
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
ANALYSIS
Rosalin Zein AS MEDIA

2. 27 Dresses
• Jane is a single woman who has served as a bridesmaid 27 times who
begins to feel as if something is missing in her life.
• One night, local newspaper reporter Kevin spots the devoted bridal
attendant racing between receptions in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and
quickly surmises that her quirky tale may be just the story to get him off
the bridal beat and into the big time.
• Jane butts heads with Kevin just as her younger sister Tess shows up in
town. While Jane has always put the needs of friends and family before
her own wants and desires, she's suddenly prompted to reevaluate her
priorities when her boss -- with whom she is secretly in love -- falls for
her younger sister Tess.
• When Tess and Jane's boss George make plans to marry, the smitten
younger sibling mistakenly assumes that her lovelorn older sibling will be
happy to take part in the wedding.
• For as far back as Jane can remember, she has sacrificed her own
happiness for the sake of those she holds dearest, but now that her heart
has been broken, she's finally found the courage to be honest with
herself.
• Now, as Jane finally comes to terms with her true feelings, her life
begins to change in ways she never expected.

3. A) Has the institution created a text with a conventional
(stereotypical) narrative structure?
 Yes, there is a clear linear narrative which can be broken
down into:
 Act one - Set up
 Act two – Conflict
 Act three – Resolution

4. B) Explain how the film is narrative implicit or explicit?
Implicit/explicit narrative reasons: Evidence:
Explicit – because it is a romantic comedy
and this means that the main characters Jane and
will fall in love. Kevin fall
in love.
Implicit – because the audience does not
know how the characters will get together.
Implicit – because the audience also
doesn't know what will happen in the film.

5. How the film uses conventional narrative structure (Act one)
Jane meets Kevin Kevin helps Jane get Janes sister Tess Tess and Jane’s Boss
home and finds her comes to live with her begin to go out with
diary which he uses each other
for his next article.
Jane meets Kevin at a Kevin plans a story Janes sister comes to Jane is upset because
wedding party that around Jane and her live with Jane and we her sister and her boss
she planned. journal – about her can see that Tess (that Jane secretly
being a bridesmaid 27 seems to aggravate loves) seem to hit it off
times Jane. and they begin dating.

6. How the film uses the conventional narrative structure (Act Two)
Kevin’s article is Tess uses pieces of Jane reveals the truth Jane argues with
printed. her mothers wedding about Tess kevin.
dress
Kevin hadnt told Jane Tess ruins her mothers At Tess and Kevin’s After the wedding
that he was writing an wedding dress by wedding party Jane party Kevin comes to
article about her and taking pieces from it. reveals the truth about apologise to Jane.
Jane is surprised when Jane gets angry with Tess.
she sees herself on the her because she had
paper and upset with loved the dress and

7. How the film uses the conventional narrative structure (Act three)
Tess and Jane make Jane realises that she Jane goes to find Jane and Kevin get
up. doesn’t love George Kevin and tells him married.
but that she actually that she loves him.
loves Kevin
Tess and Jane are Jane realises that she Jane goes to find Kevin proposes to
forced to make up by doesn't love George Kevin the make up and Jane and they get
their father and when and that it was all just tell him that she loves married with all of the
they do they sort a mistake. him. 27 brides becoming
everything out Jane's Bridesmaids.

8. Why have the film makers done this?
 The film makers have used a linear narrative structure because:
 It is easier for the audience to understand.
 It is a guaranteed way to make a profit.

9. What impact does this have on the audience?
 The impact is that :
 The audience will be able to enjoy the movie
 It means that there will be more interest in the film
 The audience will feel emotionally satisfied
 There will be no confusion

10. What audience expectations have they established or challenged by using this
structure
 The expectations they have established are:
• That the movie will be sequential ( in order) from
beginning to end.
 The expectations they have challenged are:
• That the movie will be different to others ( not
predictable)