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"

Blue Velvet



The Outlaw Josey Wales


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



There are only three characters in our music video however they can still be applied to Propps theory. Edie Sedgwick is of course the princess in distress whilst Andy Warhol can be debated as either the villan (antagonist) who gets her into fame and drugs and so turns her life upside or the false hero who begins to change Edie's life how she wanted it to be and gives her eveything she dreamt of however the limelight is taken away from Warhol and onto Bob Dylan to whom (to some extent) can be viewed at the hero (protagonist). As Dylan does try to help Edie away from her drug addiction and turn towards a life of music and love, in the end Dylan leaves her to get married and so bleakly Edie loses it all and eventually dies alone with him.

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 stereotypically 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.
Also there are other smaller binary oppositions but just as significant as it runs our narrative alone such as fame Vs unknown, drugs Vs recovery and personal Vs professionalism.