Short Answer Questions

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1. Describe the three basic principles of classical Hollywood narrative form.
Classical Hollywood narratives typically concentrate on one or two central characters. The desires and goals of those central characters move the story forward in a linear manner. The action of the story is motivated by character psychology and develops according to a realistic cause-and-effect logic.

Question

2. How did the European art cinemas that emerged after World War II challenge Hollywood cinema?
Post-World War II art cinema questioned many of the cultural perspectives and values that existed before the war, which Hollywood films exemplified in their use of linear, objective, neatly resolved narratives. Many European postwar films subverted or overturned classical narrative models by featuring characters without direction, seemingly illogical actions, and messier, sometimes surreal plotlines. By turning away from the objective point of view of realist narratives to create more individual styles and tell stories that were more personal than public, this new movement in film resulted in self-reflexive styles that called attention to the very mechanisms of storytelling.

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3. What is the difference between story and plot? Provide an example that shows how these two elements can interact.
>A story is the subject matter or raw material of a narrative, with the actions and events ordered chronologically and focused on one or more characters that motivate the events and perform the actions. The plot orders the events and actions of the story according to particular temporal and spatial patterns, highlighting some actions, individuals, and events and omitting others. A primary example that shows the interaction of story and plot is a murder mystery. A mystery story is plotted in such a way that the main action of the story (the murder) occurs at the beginning or even prior to the beginning of the film. The plot consists of a detective trying to recreate the series of events leading up to the murder (the story) and discovering the murderer’s identity.

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4. What does character development refer to and what four schemes does it follow?
Character development describes the patterns through which characters move from one mental, physical, or social state to another during the course of a film. Character development follows four general schemes: external and internal changes, and progressive and regressive developments. An external development refers to something physical (such as when we watch Benjamin Button age in reverse), while an internal development describes an inner psychological, emotional, or spiritual change. Progressive and regressive developments add value judgments to character development, positioning or interpreting character changes as marking improvements or deterioration.

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5. Within a classical Hollywood narrative, what does a deadline structure refer to? Please give an example.
A deadline structure is a temporal patterning of plot in which the story or action accelerates toward a central event, a “deadline” that must be accomplished by a certain moment, hour, day, or year. These narrative rhythms can create suspense and anticipation that define the entire narrative and the characters that motivate it. The deadline structure can be seen in all genres of film from comedies to thrillers to action movies. One popular example is The Hangover (2009), in which the characters must find the groom after a night of partying in Las Vegas and get him to his wedding on time.