1. Narrative is the art of telling a story – so it is more than just the story, it is how the story is told . Narrative

2. 1. Story & Plot - Bordwell & Thompson 2. Enigma Codes – Roland Barthes Narrative Theories & Theorists

13. Action Codes: Images or sequences which work as a form of a Visual Shorthand making complex Ideas immediately apparent and carrying the story forward. Enigma Codes: Images/sequences which control how much we know in the story, engaging and holding audience interest. They present puzzles which demand to be solved And The Action/Enigma Codes Roland Barthes Remember the Buried teaser traile r ?

14. More on the Enigma Code Roland Barthes An enigma code works to keep setting up little puzzles to be solved (and not only at the beginning of a story), to delay the story’s ending pleasurably: e.g. how will Tom Cruise get out of this predicament? Enigma codes can be described as minor or major .

15. Apply Barthes’ ideas Roland Barthes Task : Watch the clip and write down all the questions it raises for you as a viewer. Shutter Island Teaser Trailer Now try and sort them into minor and major enigmas.

16. Apply his ideas to your own work Roland Barthes What elements of your trailer act as enigma codes (or clues) that leave the audience with questions or puzzles to solve? Draw and fill in the table below: What are the codes (or clues)? What questions do they leave the audience with? Minor: Major:

17. How would you approach this in the exam? Narrative essay plan What the examiners say: ‘ If the concept is narrative, and you’ve done a film trailer, you might consider how far a trailer gives a sense of a film’s narrative and how much you choose to reveal in yours as part of promoting the film. What you don’t want to do is apply some theory like Todorov’s to try to prove that your film follows a pattern. The task should be seen as an opportunity really to reflect on how your chosen project actually works as a text.’

18. How would you approach this in the exam? Narrative essay plan Examiner’s guide to structuring your answer: Para 1 - Intro: Which of your projects are you going to write about? Briefly describe it Para 2: What are some of the key features of the concept you are being asked to apply? Maybe outline two of the theories/ideas of particular writers briefly. (Bordwell & Thompson? Barthes?) Para 3: Start to apply the concept, making close reference to your production to show how the concept is evident in it. (See next slide) Para 4: Keep applying! Para 5: Conclusion (How successful is the narrative of your product in serving the purpose of a teaser trailer?)