Essay Sample on Narrative Analysis: Storytelling in Literature, Media and Sociology

Introduction

Narrative analysis originates from the theory of literature. It associates with cultural and media to gain the social world literature significantly where data can store for interpretation (Gerrig, 2018). It includes oral history and the narrative of life on storytelling, which is in the sociology part. Storytelling is clearly shown in the video as the news reporter describes the movement and operation going on in China quarry documentary. In this study am going to compare narrative techniques used in the video. This is through observing the progress of the camera, changes in the point of view, and the symbolism of colors, the use of narration and music, and the application of cultural references. It also demonstrates how techniques used to help shape the message in the documentary.

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In the narrative analysis, camera movement is essential to be observed. This is because the camera determines how a film look. Film fans or spectators are mostly attracted to good filming since it will help the viewers to see, for example, images clearly without straining. Therefore, camera movement has got influence in the communication of the cinema. In the video, film, taker have tried to move the camera even though he was in a busy area. Workers in the quarry and drivers appear to be working in big dust foaming from the sand harvested. The pictures in the video are visually visible. This shows that filming was even in the staggering technical challenges since free shots need to be executed the due continuous movement of driving machines accurately.

The position and movement of the camera in both videos act differently. In Behemoth, video zooming was mostly applied to bring images nearer. For example, zooming shows the quarry workers black spots on their faces from the dusty mines. A woman with an injured leg is also shown with a small scar that caused its whole leg to swollen while in the Zhou only applied camera movement to magnify the mayor writing on signatures to authorize the demolition of the old Datong which is the ancient city with the highest population. In the change of point of view, panning was mostly favorable in both videos. Shows as the widespread land with huge buildings while on the other video there shows an extensive mountainous area where some have been reduced to the small plate-like mountains. Panning helps to focus on different pictures to create flow on the videos and pictured captured. Dolly shot is another camera movement used in both videos to differentiate the land topography. In Zhao, video dolly movement shows the difference in mountainous area region where mining has not yet started and the area which has been affected due to the removal of construction stones. This helps the audience to focus and differentiate different topography to be able to create an illusion.

The symbolism of colors has also been used in the videos such as the Behemoth where flag have been used to show patriotism. The blue color of the sky has also been used to indicate depression. The blue color represents a man with no clothes is demonstrated in a way that he is helpless with the condition of the environment he lives. The evidence is also clearly interpreted by the speaker that the land which has been a long time had a good appearance have turned formless due to human destruction. In both videos, green color has used to shoe green background. For example, green color for the green grazing fields for the Behemoth video. It helps to make a comparison between the virgin area of land and that part which have used for the construction of the buildings and quarry sites. It affects the message in the documentary as it catches the people feel to feel sorry for the people living in terrible conditions such as those who die to breathe harmful gases emitted in stone harvesting sites.

The use of narration and music have been widely used in the documentary. For example, in the Behemoth video hearing of sound like sparks to represent the hot nature of the stone melting machines clearly showing smoke coming out. This narrates in the musical tone that the area must be scorching. Evidence is shown out clearly by a man sweating through the operation to melt the stones with a melting solution. Music was also used in both documentaries to show to indicate worshipping areas as the tone changes. People are shown praying inside there shrines, for example in the old city of Datong. In the Zhou video, the tone for the music changes, for example in areas where people have been relocated from the authorities headed by the Chinese mayor Geng. Suffering is shown by the women crying pleading to Mayor Geng to have favor on them. On the Behemoth video, the use of narration and music also was applied to describe rustling of melting mac and also to show some sheep kept to show some healthy and happier place than the stone harvesting.

Cultural references that have been used are the Chinese language widely used, the appearance of the buildings designs primarily in the old capital Datong, and their ancestral images are drawn on stone tablets to show their heroic nature as shown in the Behemoth video. On the Chinese mayor video, cultural reference is shown whereby the culture of leadership whereby the leaders have powers, for example, Geng the mayor gives orders for demolitions and the poverty of the people is so high as clearly shown by their lifestyle conditions.

Conclusion

The narrative techniques are very crucial in every documentary as it gives the audience a good rapport. This is through a full flow of pictures capturing and the videos giving a video a clear discharge. The stream includes all the resource of narrative techniques, which provides music, materials such as camera, colors, and cultural references. These techniques give a complete idea flows and able to catch the attention of the audience to keep them continue watching without bored

Bibliography

Gerrig, Richard J. "Participatory Responses." Experiencing Narrative Worlds, 2018, 65-96. doi:10.4324/9780429500633-3.