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Theory of Film Narrative

Theory of Film Narrative

Code	13090
Year	1
Semester	S1
ECTS Credits	6
Workload	OT(15H)/TP(45H)
Scientific area	Cinema
Entry requirements	The student should: 1. Have discipline and working habits. 2. Be fluent in oral and written Portuguese, and have a general knowledge of English language. 3. Be open to critics from colleagues and from the professor.
Mode of delivery	Face-to-face
Work placements	Does not apply.
Learning outcomes	The main objective of this course unit is to understand the specificity of cinematic narrative in relation to others (literary, dramatic, etc.). By the end of this course unit, the student should be able to: 1. Identify the elements and principles of cinematic narrative. 2. Understand the similarities, differences and relations between the cinematic, theatrical and literary narratives. 3. Understand the differences between fictional and documental narratives. 4. Identify the cinematic narrative in its thematic and formal multiplicity. 5. Develop the critical spirit in the analysis and assessment of cinematic narratives. 6. Do research and manage scientific information.
Syllabus	1. Narrative and narratology 1.1. Concepts 1.2. Phases: oral, written and cinematic 2. Fictionality 2.1. Concept 2.2. Verisimilitude 2.3. Presence 3. Characters 3.1. Concept 3.2. Importance 3.3. Conception 3.4. Evolution 3.5. Function 4. Space 4.1. Concept 4.2. Functions 4.3. Types 5. Time 5.1. Changes in chronological order 5.2. Changes in duration 6. Narrator 6.1. Concept 6.2. Functions 6.3. Presence 6.4. Focalization 7. Structure 7.1. Concept 7.2. Acts 8. Classical narrative 8.1. Concept 8.2. Public 8.3. Genres and main themes 8.4. Types of characters 8.5. Structure 9. Contemporary narrative 9.1. Concept 9.2. Public 9.3. Genres and main themes 9.4. Types of characters 9.5. Structure 10. Intertextuality 10.1. Concept 10.2. Allusion 10.3. Parody 10.4. Crossover 10.5. Tribute 10.6. Pastiche 11. Cinematic adaptation 11.1. The matter of fidelity 11.2. Literary text vs. cinematic text 11.3. Levels of adaptation 12. Genres 12.1. Concept 12.2. Types
Main Bibliography	Bibliography Bal, Mieke. Narratology. Toronto: Toronto UP, 2004. Bordwell, David. Narration in the Fiction Film. New York: Routledge, 1985. Braningan, Edward. Narrative Comprehension and Film. New York: Routledge, 1992. Chatman, Seymour. Story and Discourse. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1980. Cook, David A. A History of Narrative Film. New York: Norton, 1996. Genette, Gérard. Discurso da narrativa. Lisboa: Vega, 1995. Mancelos, João de. Introdução à narrativa cinematográfica. Lisboa: Colibri, 2017. Parent-Altier, Dominique. O argumento cinematográfico. Lisboa: Texto & Grafia, 2011. Prince, Gerald. Narratology. Berlin: Mouton, 1982. —. A Dictionary of Narratology. Lincoln: U of Nebraska P, 2003. Filmography Coppola, Francis Ford. The Godfather. Paramount, 1972. Hopper, Dennis. Easy Rider. Pando, 1969. Kubrick, Stanley. 2001: A Space Odyssey. MGM, 1968. Malick, Terrence. Badlands. Warner, 1973. Scorcese, Martin. Taxi Driver. Columbia, 1976. Tykwer, Tom. Lola Rennt. X-Filme Creative Pool, 1998.
Language	Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.