Narrative and Genre: Finished!

Today I handed in my final essay and I'm so glad it's over. I enjoy the research behind the essays but I find it hard putting all the ideas together. I handed everything in on time and I was really happy with my final essay.

Narrative and Genre: First Draft

Today we handed in our first draft of the essay, I didn't manage to get the full word count but I wanted to hand in what I had so that I could get feedback and make sure I was going in the right direction. I still need to find some more quotes on online and portable media so that I can talk about how the narrative tools are effected by these transmissions. Once i have got some feedback I will flesh out my essay and make sure I include everything I need to.

Narrative and Genre: Essay Help

This morning Maddie, Dean and I all went to see Rachel Kitchen to get some help with our essays as we were unsure on how to structure them and what exactly we needed to include. She helped us alot with figuring out a structure:

1. Introduction
2. Context - What is narrative tools and genre
3. Example - X Factor, choose a specific episode or character
4. How online transmission could effect the narrative tools and genre
5. Conclusion 

She also said to make sure you use a variety of sources and to try and in bed the quotations in your sentences as well as putting them in to show what someone has said.

We also went and saw Nick in the library who taught us about the online resources the uni has to help us with our essays.

Both Nick and Rachel were a great help and I now have a greater understanding of the question, how to structure my essay and where is best to find my research.

Narrative and Genre: X Factor seen as Fictional

When we did our Story of Narrative lecture we talked about X Factor in a fictional way which helped me to understand what narrative plot line the show follows.

Here are the notes on X Factor:

To understand the nature of narrative and plot, lets look at a classic old example and see if you can name the story:

™  It’s story is about a quest to find a mythical person that will bring hope and riches to all those involved.

™  It has a cast of thousands but only five main characters: The protaganist (young, bright but is an ugly duckling waiting to turn into a swan)™  The main character (Young, beautiful, fragile, but with a fierce determination to succeed).

™  The Antagonist (Likes to pretend they are good, but is actually bad, willing to sacrifice anyone who gets in their way)

™  The secondary character (Dependable, supports everyone and everything.)

™  The side-kick (merely there for comic relief and to undermine or support the various characters)

 ™  The setting: contemporary, covering a whole kingdom but with a main single castle.

™  Genre: Fairytale with elements of drama, suspense and fantasy.

™  Tone: Colourfull and lush, with broad epic camera moves and lighting.

™  The classic story known as....?

Though presented as a reality talent show, the X-Factor has all the ingredients of a classic fairytale, using the plot device of “The Quest”

™  The Characters: Protagonist (The Contestants).

™  The Main character (Cheryl Cole)

™  The Antagonist (Simon Cowell)

™  The secondary character (Dannii Minogue)

™  The sidekick/comic relief (Louis Walsh)

Narrative and Genre: X Factor Research

From reading through my notes and looking at X Factor I know the genre of the programme is Factual Entertainment and the narrative plot line they use is that of a Quest.

From doing research online I have found a pdf which I think will come in very useful with answering the question http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/conferences/mediastudies2010/x_factor.pdf. I have also found this radio broadcast which I think could be useful http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9280000/9280919.stm. I've also got a few books out of the libary which I will read through and pull some references from.

Narrative and Genre: My chosen programme

I have chosen to use X Factor as my programme for the essay as it has developed alot over the years and I feel there is alot I can talk about regarding narrative and genre. I also think that the narrative and genre tools which X Factor uses would defiantly be influenced by online media transmission because so many people choose to watch it online know instead of sitting down at the correct time to watch it on TV.

Narrative and Genre: Choosing a Programme

I've been trying to think of a programme to examine for my essay my initial idea was to do a cosmetic makeover programme like Extreme Makeover or The Swan as the characters in the show go on a voyage and return journey and I think there would be alot to talk about with the narrative and the genre of the show.

With The Swan it is a mixture of 2 genres Voyage and Return and Quest and so I would have alot to talk about with genre.

I have also thought about doing the X Factor as it has changed so much over the years and has become alot more about the narrative then the actual talent.

Narrative and Genre: The Story of Narrative

Every drama, documentary, news and reality show have a story to communicate their point.
Christopher Booker argues that all stories can be split into 7 plot lines and all stories are versions of these. They are:

• Tragedy
• Comedy
• Overcoming the monster
• Voyage and the Return
• Quest
• Rags to Riches
• Rebirth

Tragedy

This plot usually concerns a hero with a fatal flaw, which causes a tragic ending.

• Romeo and Juliet
• The Godfather
• Madmen

Comedy

This is not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny but there is always a happy ending typically of romantic fulfilment. Will usually have a hero, down on their luck and looking for love in some shape or form. There will be a hero and a heroine destined to get together, but dark forces prevent them doing so. Normally there is a guiding light to help them on their way.

• Take Me Out
• Friends
• Scrubs
• Gavin and Stacey

Overcoming the Monster

Fighting against a seemingly unbeatable foe at its core. Only will the hero prevail if they can overcome this monster.

• Jaws
• Deal or No Deal
• Doctor Who
• Detective Programmes

Voyage and Return

This plot line follows the archetypal structure of personal development through leaving and then returning. The hero enters a land/place/time that they don't understand and must overcome.

• Alice in Wonderland
• Wife Swap
• Big
• Freaky Friday
• Undercover Boss

Quest

Was always about finding a holy grail. Usually requires the lone hero to have a team or companions with specialist skills. Quite often the object of the quest isn't actually something dramatic - a macguffin.

• Lord of the Rings - the ring
• Pulp Fiction - the suitcase
• Moby Dick
• X Factor
• Total Wipeout

Rags to Riches

The riches in question can be literal or metaphorical. Usually there is a hero who goes from rags to riches and a villain who does the opposite. With a coming of age story the rags and riches are maturity and immaturity.

• Stand By Me
• Pursuit of Happiness
• Only Fools and Horses
• Weakest Link
• Makeover programmes

Re-Birth

The central character finds a new reason for living and turns their life around. Villain spirals down into evil and then at the last second raises their head and gets pulled out of mire by some redeeming figure.

• Eastenders
• Secret Millionaire
• Kitchen Nightmare

Narrative and Genre: The Genre of Telling a Story

Genre can be described as a set of particular conventions or rules that present a particular story in a particular way. The idea being that a viewer watching "X" genre will expect to recognise the story.

The Different Genres

• Action
• Adventure
• Detective
• Fantasy
• Film Noir
• Horror
• Musical
• Romantic Comedy
• Sci-Fi
• Thriller
• Western

The rules of the different genres are there to be followed because history and experience say they work.

Narrative and Genre: What's Involved

For this unit we will have to pick a television production and write a 2500 word essay identifying and examing the use of genre and narrative tools and how online or portable media transmission would affect these tools.

Theres so many programmes to choose from, I could either use a fictional show such as The Office or Eastenders or a factual programme such as Superfat vs SuperSkinny or Extreme Makeover, I could also use Mistresses the same programme I am using for my Direction Unit as this will link the 2 units and I will be able to use the same research for both. I will have a think and decide what programme I think I will be able to get the most out of in terms of understanding the narrative and genre and then be able to put that knowledge in to a 2500 word essay.