Theories Of Narratology, Intertextuality And Subtext In Complex Stories

In this following essay I will be defining the theories of narratology, intertextuality and subtext and discussing ways in which these concepts contribute to telling intricate and complex stories across different mediums.

Narratology

“Narratology is the branch of knowledge or criticism that deals with the structure and function of narrative and its themes, conventions, and symbols”. Narratology is the study and deconstruction of narrative structure. Narratology takes a looks at what narratives have In common or share and what makes one unique in relation to another. Derived from structuralism and semiotics narratology is centered on the idea of a typical literary language, or a widespread example of codes that works inside the content of a work. I agree with Genette because without narratology we wouldn’t have been apple to deconstruct narrative and find a way to manipulate it so that the viewers’ stay intrigued.

The concept of narratology contributes to the telling of intricate and complex stories by:

Applying order in a story and introducing different events in the story that start on a low mood/pace and gradually or instantly builds suspense to the viewer then concludes the story (gives shape the story) also giving the viewer more than not instances where they can relate to the story keeping their eyes/attention spand glued to what is being viewed.

By adding frequency to a story where one event has a ripple effect on the development of the characters storyline (e.g. character gets hit by a car and has to deal with having broken legs for a period of the story).

Duration, which plays a role in the viewers’ mind as all been can relate to the passing or reverse (flashback) of time.

Voice, which is who is telling the story (narrator) and where do they come from.

Genette said narrative mood is dependent on the ‘distance’ and ‘perspective’ of the narrator, and like music, narrative mood has predominant patterns.

Intertextuality

Intertextuality indicates the manner by which messages (any content, not simply writing) increase importance through their referencing or involvement of different writings. Graham Allen describes this move as “one in which assertions of objectivity, scientific rigor, methodological stability and other highly rationalistic- sounding terms are replaced by an emphasis on uncertainty, indeterminacy, incommunicability, subjectivity, desire, pleasure and play”.

Intertextuality contributes to intricate story telling when creators get direct references from past works, their work gains layers of importance. Likewise, when content is perused in the light of content, every one of the suspicions and impacts of the other content give significance and impact the method for translating the first content. It fills in as a subtheme, and helps us to remember the twofold accounts in moral stories.

Subtext

“Subtext, on the other hand, is a level of hidden (or at least not so obvious) meaning, consisting of secret, unacknowledged signals to the audience which function to interpret or cast new light on the text. These signals may occur in the acting, in the visual or verbal emphasis given to things by the director, in unarticulated patterns in scenario, or in a symbolic treatment of objects, places or people. Very often the relation between text and subtext is one of opposition: the subtext subverts the text”.

An underlying and often obvious theme in a piece of writing, conversation, work of art, film, TV series, advert, music video or song is a subtext. Although subtext and intertextuality are nearly the same thing in my mind I feel as if intertextuality is taking someone else’s work and combining it with your own to provoke a certain emotion or visual but subtext is when you use underlying issues in your story to create your own emotion or visual in the audience.

In conclusion the found theories of narratology, intertextuality and subtext contribute to the telling of intricate and complex stories because they build a base and complete understanding for the audience.