Narrative Structure (Discussion)

Classical Hollywood cinema

Choose a classical film that everyone in your group has seen. Explain how it fits the classical implementation of:

1. Single protagonist
2. Exposition
3. Motivation
4. Narrative enigma
5. Cause-effect chain
6. Climax
7. Resolution

• G1: Forrest Gump
• G2: Titannic
• G3: Aladdin
• G4: E.T.

The television series

Break down the "Rudy's Sick" episode from the Cosby Show (13 December 1984).

How many scenes does it have?

Explain how it does or does not exemplify conventional television-series narrative structure:

1. Multiple protagonists
2. Exposition
3. Motivation
4. Narrative problematic
5. Cause-effect chain
6. Climax
7. Resolution

The television serial

How does the serial differ from the series in terms of narrative components?

Bibliography

1. Butler, Jeremy G. Television: Critical Methods and Applications. Mahweh, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2007.