Gerard Genette

Definition

Gerard Genette is a French literary theorist known for his work on narrative theory, particularly in how stories are structured and told. His concepts of narrative discourse, including focalization and order, are crucial for analyzing the complexities of storytelling, especially in television, where visual and temporal elements play a significant role in how narratives unfold. By dissecting these narrative components, Genette provides valuable tools for understanding how audiences engage with television narratives.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Genette introduced the concept of 'narrative time,' which explores how time is manipulated in storytelling through techniques like flashbacks and foreshadowing.
2. His work emphasizes the difference between story (the content) and discourse (the form), highlighting how the same story can be told in various ways.
3. One of his major contributions is the idea of 'paratext,' which includes all materials that surround a text, such as prefaces, illustrations, and titles, influencing audience reception.
4. Genette's theories can be applied to various forms of media, but his insights are particularly relevant for understanding the episodic and serial nature of television narratives.
5. He posited that understanding narrative structure can enhance our appreciation of how tension and suspense are built in stories, especially in serialized formats common in TV.

Review Questions

• How does Gerard Genette's concept of focalization enhance our understanding of character perspectives in television narratives?
  • Gerard Genette's concept of focalization allows us to analyze whose perspective is being presented in a television narrative. By identifying whether a story is told from a first-person, third-person, or omniscient viewpoint, we can better understand how this choice shapes audience perception and emotional engagement with characters. This understanding helps us see how focalization impacts not only the storytelling but also viewer interpretation and empathy.
• In what ways do Genette's theories of narrative order affect the viewer's experience when watching episodic television series?
  • Genette's theories on narrative order significantly influence how viewers experience episodic television series. By employing non-linear storytelling techniques like flashbacks or out-of-sequence events, creators can create suspense or deepen character development. This manipulation of narrative order not only keeps viewers engaged but also encourages them to piece together the storyline actively, enhancing their connection to the overall narrative arc.
• Evaluate how Genette's ideas about paratext can be applied to analyze marketing strategies used for television shows.
  • Evaluating Genette's ideas about paratext reveals how marketing strategies for television shows utilize surrounding materials to shape audience expectations and reception. For example, promotional trailers, social media content, and even merchandise serve as paratexts that inform potential viewers about the show's themes and style. By analyzing these elements, we can understand how they enhance or alter our interpretation of the main narrative before we even watch an episode, influencing viewer engagement from the outset.

Related terms

Focalization: Focalization refers to the perspective through which a story is presented, determining what the audience sees and knows about the characters and events.

Narrative Order: Narrative order is the arrangement of events in a story, which can differ from their chronological sequence, influencing how the audience perceives the unfolding of the narrative.

Metalepsis: Metalepsis is a narrative technique where there is a crossing of boundaries between different narrative levels or realms, creating complex layers of storytelling.