Shaun of the Dead - Narrative

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  • Created by: Mushcoco
  • Created on: 27-03-20 12:17
Who came up with the 5 key stages of narrative that can be applied to most films?
Todorov
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What is the first part of key narrative structure
The equilibrium
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What is the second part of key narrative structure
Disruption of the Equilibrium
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What is the third part of key narrative structure
Recognition of the disruption
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What is the fourth part of key narrative structure
Attempts to repair the damage
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What is the last part of key narrative structure
new equilibrium
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What is the meaning of Equilibrium?
Time of peace - think calm before the storm
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In shaun of the dead that would be the Equilibrium?
Shaun's time at the pub/home before he goes outside.
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In shaun of the dead that would be the Disruption of Equilibrium?
The news reports/police vans in the background & the zombie Shaun saw that disappeared behind a bus.
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In shaun of the dead that would be the Recognition of the Disruption?
When the Zombie in the garden is impaled, yet gets up again, in front of them.
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In shaun of the dead that would be the Attempts to Repair the Damage?
Shaun's mission to save Liz & his Mum / taking them all to the Winchester Pub.
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In shaun of the dead that would be the New Equilibrium?
Time jump after Liz & Shaun were saved - The happy music is back
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Within every film narrative there exists what?
The cause and effect chain
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What's the cause in the cause and effect chain?
Every event or action within the film's narrative must be motivated - in Shaun of the dead this could be the brief explanation of the zombies on the news which is cut off.
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What's the effect in the cause and effect chain?
The thing that happened after it as a result
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What is plot segmentation?
A division of the film into segments based on narrative time and space. - Provides an overview of the film's structure.
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For one plot segmentation's segment to end/begin there must be a?
A change in time or place (think paragraphs) - cinematic devises that can show this are cuts, black screen markers & Fades
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What did Claude Levi-Strauss suggest?
That the narrative structure depends on Binary Oppositions.
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What are Binary oppositions?
When two opposing forces are at work throughout the story, which causes conflict that is essential in moving the narrative forward.
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What can represent the Binary Oppositions?
Characters, Conflicting ideas or themes
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What could be representing the Binary Oppositions in Shaun of the dead?
Ed & Shaun (The themes of childishness & maturity) or Alive vs living-dead?
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What is 'the other' as shown in film?
Many film genres, such as horror & Sci-fi use this concept - as represented through Zombies, ghosts, aliens, robots, etc as sources of conflict. Making 'the other' their film's binary opposition.
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How is the idea of 'the other' challenged in Shaun of the Dead?
The film ends with zombies being treated more like humans - the conflict ends.
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What's another way of looking at narrative development?
Analyse Character Arcs.
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What Character Arc Development is made in Shaun of the Dead?
Shaun finally grows more mature, he becomes the 'man' his step-father always saw in him. This can be seen through the setting/props of his apartment growing more mature & the fact he has finally moved in with Liz -outgrowing his college self/roommat
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Three moments in the film when Shaun changes?
Goes to get Liz/Mum (climbs fire escape that he originally couldn't - bravery.), Shoots mum (No longer a mamas-boy) & Shoots Ed (kinda killed the personification of his college-self)
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When the view of events offered to us as we watch a film is unrestricted - we're given a 'godlike' overview - enabling us to know more than any character, what's this known as?
The 'Privileged spectator position.'
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When certain facts & events are withheld from us until crucial moments in the plot, what is our view?
Restricted
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How can spectators work out what Narrative positioning we're in
Ask yourself if we know more than, less than or as much as a given character.
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What's the amount we know more/less/the same as a character, called?
The Hierarchy of Knowledge
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Knowing more than a character in the hierarchy of knowledge leads to?
Suspense, we anticipate tings happening that the character is unaware of.
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Knowing less than a character in the hierarchy of knowledge leads to?
Shock & Surprise.
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Whats an Example in Shaun of the dead where knowing less leads to surprise?
When Shaun climbs up the children's slide to check if the coast is clear, we don't see herd of zombies until after.
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Whats an Example in Shaun of the dead where knowing more leads to suspense.
Going in/seeing all the hints of zombies/knowing what Peter's bite means leads to suspense as the audience wait for zombies.
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Character Alignment is when?
Film narratives try to position the audience to align themselves with or against characters
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How does Shaun of the Dead try to align us with Shaun?
Lots of close ups - more than any other character
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Card 2

Front

What is the first part of key narrative structure

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The equilibrium

Card 3

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What is the second part of key narrative structure

Back

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Card 4

Front

What is the third part of key narrative structure

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the fourth part of key narrative structure

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