BUI301F2022/Narrative Structure

Classical Hollywood cinema

• 

  Television Figure 3.6 The rise and fall of the narrative action in classical film.

Does Always Be My Maybe fit the classical implementation of:

1. Single protagonist
2. Exposition
3. Motivation
4. Narrative enigma
5. Cause-effect chain
   • Story time versus screen time--in terms of duration and order
6. Climax
7. Resolution

The television series

• 

  Television Figure 3.12 Linear-TV series' narrative structure must accommodate commercial interruptions and allow for a repeatable narrative problematic.

Break down the "The Vartabedian Conundrum" episode from The Big Bang Theory (December 8, 2008). Number each scene and provide a brief description of it.

• How many scenes does it have?

Does the episode contain the conventional elements of a TV series? What are the key differences between its narrative structure and that of a classical film?

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

Media discourse

1. What are the different discourses or worldviews shown in TBBT? How would you describe its polysemy?
   • What values does it attach to professors/engineers?
   • Are there gender stereotypes at play?
     • How do the young women we've seen compare/contrast in terms of gender roles and their relationships with the shows' men?
       • Penny and Stephanie (Big Bang)
2. Is there a final meaning (a "message" or "moral") that the show presents to the viewer?
   • Do you agree with it?