Narrativity
Encyclopedia
In film theory
, narrativity refers to the processes by which a story
is both presented
by the filmmaker and interpreted
by the viewer. The term must be distinguished from narrative
, which refers to the story itself.
Narrativity is a common subject of debate in film theory
. Many believe that the interpretation of a film's narrative is subjective. In other words, the same story may appear differently to a viewer, depending on their background. Other important aspects explored by film theorists are the factors which distinguish narrativity in film from that of other art
forms.
When exploring narrativity in film, several factors must be taken into account. For example, the order in which the events of the story are presented. Films often employ non-linear storytelling, which refers to a story not presented chronologically. Another important facet of narrativity is montage, or the juxtaposition of images. Perhaps most importantly of all, are the images themselves. A filmmaker's choice of what to show, and what not to show, is key to understanding him or her as an artist and a storyteller.
Film theory
Film theory is an academic discipline that aims to explore the essence of the cinema and provides conceptual frameworks for understanding film's relationship to reality, the other arts, individual viewers, and society at large...
, narrativity refers to the processes by which a story
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
is both presented
Presentation
Presentation is the practice of showing and explaining the content of a topic to an audience or learner. Presentations come in nearly as many forms as there are life situations...
by the filmmaker and interpreted
Interpretation (logic)
An interpretation is an assignment of meaning to the symbols of a formal language. Many formal languages used in mathematics, logic, and theoretical computer science are defined in solely syntactic terms, and as such do not have any meaning until they are given some interpretation...
by the viewer. The term must be distinguished from narrative
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
, which refers to the story itself.
Narrativity is a common subject of debate in film theory
Film theory
Film theory is an academic discipline that aims to explore the essence of the cinema and provides conceptual frameworks for understanding film's relationship to reality, the other arts, individual viewers, and society at large...
. Many believe that the interpretation of a film's narrative is subjective. In other words, the same story may appear differently to a viewer, depending on their background. Other important aspects explored by film theorists are the factors which distinguish narrativity in film from that of other art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
forms.
When exploring narrativity in film, several factors must be taken into account. For example, the order in which the events of the story are presented. Films often employ non-linear storytelling, which refers to a story not presented chronologically. Another important facet of narrativity is montage, or the juxtaposition of images. Perhaps most importantly of all, are the images themselves. A filmmaker's choice of what to show, and what not to show, is key to understanding him or her as an artist and a storyteller.