Narrative can be described as a process or technique in telling a story.
Watching the final scene from the film Donnie Darko, I noted down how such narrative devices could be shown in films, and consequentially, photography.
After understanding that narrative devices are ways in which we make things happen, I found that this scene included many different techniques, such as placing text over an image, flashbacks, voice-overs, playing music over the film and specifically what the music says, chapter style heading overlay, repetition of a motif, grids breaking up the screen, and image layering.
In this final scene, the narrative devices add so much to the movie- image layering, flashbacks and repetition add chaos and disorder, breaking up the narrative of the story, while the use of grids helps to keep it contained within the boundary of the screen.
The song 'Mad World' has such a powerful effect on the mind; its melancholy tune and lyrics played over the end of the scene while any sound from the film is removed emphasises the feelings of distress of the characters by letting us focus on how the people are reacting. We are forced to watch their silent grief, and the addition of the song makes me feel empathy and sadness too.
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| Sophie Calle Prenez soin de vous (Take Care of Yourself), 2007 |
Sophie Calle's work as a response to a breakup uses text over layed on an image, which when translated has a clear instruction, but yet the way she has chosen to present the words leave it up to the viewer to make what they will of it.
Further research
Sophie Calle- http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jun/16/artnews.art
(journal)- Sophie Calle: A Lover's Monologue, Aperture no191 22-9 Summ 2008
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