 Aims
By the end of this course, students should be fully familiar with the principal theories of narrative analysis, both productive and receptive. They should be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of authors and theories and be able to apply their knowledge to other communicative objects (information media, fiction, advertising..). Students should both acquire the basic foundations of Narratology and be able to demonstrate this through exercises on defined communication objects.
Main themes
The course has a number of main objectives:
- to define the specific nature of narrative communication and the functions of the narrative in the communication process
- to analyse the process whereby societies use their stories to create, sustain and develop themselves;
- to put into perspective the theories and methodologies particular to narrative analysis, which have been inspired by traditional Narratology and adapted for the analysis of modern media production.
Content and teaching methods
- A range of narrative theories will be introduced from the viewpoint of the specifically communicational approach they offer.
- The conditions pertaining to narrative production and reception will be analysed: narrative is viewed as a special means of structuring the social universe.
- The course also functions as a critical introduction to the main methods of narrative analysis and some specific concepts (the media figure, temporality, focalisation)
Course format: Lectures and case-studies
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)
Prerequisite: COMU 1121 General Semiotics COMU 1221 Semio-pragmatics
Evaluation: Students will be evaluated both on their understanding of the theoretical issues discussed in the course and on their ability to use the analytical tools and apply them critically to specific media objects relevant to their own subject options.
Course materials: Course handout and model case studies
Supervision: Lectures and integrated case studies
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