Narrative Codes in Visual Texts and Plot & Story

Citizen Kane - Narrative Codes in Visual Texts

Opening Sequence
The opening sequence of Citizen Kane leaves us in a mystery in terms of where we are, what is going on, why it is going on and who is involved. We are faced with a “NO TRESSPASS” sign meaning that we shouldn’t go any further but we want to know what is behind the fence. The camera cranes up and the editing uses dissolves to that gives us the sense that we have climbed the fence and successfully climbed the boundary. The foreboding horn music gives grimness and an eerie feeling as we prowl around the grounds that are presented to us with the camera moving forward and the edits dissolving from shot to shot. The decaying buildings and a lake with two boats and a life ring floating as mist rolls across the grounds implies desertion, loneliness and emptiness. The monkeys in the cage represent entrapment and confinement that the owner of this building has found himself in. We see the gothic style building in silhouette on top of a mountain and a light draws us to it giving a church-like religious connotation. A fading light at lets us know that there is an end to life, warmth and any importance to what was once in existence there.

Projection Room
Throughout this scene there are a group of men chatting fast, snappy and rushed as they are is a state of urgency. The constant mention of “Rosebud” lets us know that this is important. The conversations between the characters overlap giving us a sense of realism. The only light from the scene is coming from the projector as the characters are in the dark not just in terms of the lighting in the scene but also when it comes to the desire of them finding out what “Rosebud” is. During the scene we are always situated behind Thompson and we follow him on the quest of finding out what or what “Rosebud” refers to.

Nightclub
The camera starts at a high angle and cranes down as we dissolve through the ceiling. We are getting down to the female characters level. The sound of the thunderstorm rumbling in the background gives us an insight into the characters mind as troubled and confused. The woman looks glamorous in her white evening dress and the setting is of a once vibrant club. The cheap jazz-style music is telling us that the club is now run-down and pass its former glory days. The butler acts as the woman’s protector and a go-between but he is willing to continue to get her drinks. When “Thompson” attempts to talk to the woman he is dismissed in a way that she has been approached dozens of times since Kane’s death and wants nothing more to do with any one visiting her about the subject. As Thompson is in the phone booth he is in silhouette in the foreground of the shot. The butler standing outside of the phone booth is in the middle of the shot and the woman is in the well-lit background. The characters are framed in their “own worlds” but our eyes are attracted to focus on the woman. The distance of the character in the background makes her look small and diminished and is an indication that she has no connection or significance to “Rosebud”.

 Library

A low angle shot of the statue of Thatcher tells us the power and significance of the man. The music is in a style of a mocking fanfare giving the audience the impression that this once domineering character is no longer the force that he once was, in particular to Kane’s life.  The echo and the emphasis of sound of the footsteps give an uncomfortable feeling but also tells us that the building is of importance and somewhat palatial. The woman is dressed in a conservative style, and in a custodial role but Thompson is of nuisance to her and she is dismissive of him. – this is expressed in her tone of her voice. Vault-like room the light is shining on the table as if Thatcher is looking down on the proceedings in a pseudo- religious manner. The book of Thatcher’s dossier on Kane is removed from a safe and placed on the table by the security guard who is the protector of the document. The lady of the library is very direct to the point of letting Thompson know what pages will be of relevance to him. As we look over Thompson shoulder we get to see what he is reading and we find out what Thompson is finding out. As Thompson and the audience read the document we get informed of Thatcher’s early involvement of Kane’s life. The picture fades into the next scene of snow which represents purity and innocence and the music played gives a happy vibe.

Kane’s Home

Inside the boarding house Thatcher and Kane’s parents are presiding over Kane’s future. The mother is dressed in a librarian style but his father is wearing worn out clothing suggesting a lack of self-respect and because of this both Kane’s mother and Thatcher have no regard of Daddy Kane. During the scene Thatcher and Kane’s mother remain close as they have a common interest in the future of Kane and the inheritance of a vast fortune. The camera moves in and out with the mother, giving us a relationship with her. The camera never moves with the father making us unconnected to him and therefore reaffirming his lack of importance. The costumes that the characters wear gives the audience an indication of the power they have. Thatcher is dressed formally and the expensive appearance of his clothing is that of someone who is rich and in control and could also be deemed domineering. Kane’s mother is dressed conservatively and respectfully that implies that she takes pride in her appearance and the people around her. This is in contrast to Kane’s father’s moth eaten clothes which has comparisons to people how lack self respect and have low esteem.  Because of this he is often cut short when he speaks by Thatcher and Kane’s mother, making his points of view unimportant. Kane’s father, initially, dispels the idea of Kane being taken but as son as money is mentioned it persuades him and from this point he his blocked out of shot, again affirming his lack of importance.

Outside the boarding house, Thatcher’s appearance is familiar to Scrooge in his attire and also is an indication of how important money is to him. The clothing of Kane’s mother has a religious connotation whereas the father, still dressed in his poor man clothing slouches as he walks. In the attempts he has trying to talk to Kane he never gets to touch his son. Kane is framed in the centre of the shot making him important with Thatcher and his mother at either side making them powerful. Kane’s father is framed in the background, again, citing his lack of importance.

 

Pulp Fiction - Plot and Story

 

It can be quite hard to determine what the difference is between the plot and story of a movie. However, films such as Pulp Fiction enable the viewer to identify what the differences are. The plot of a movie is what we are able to see and can deduce information fairly simply. The story is what happens in between what the audience is viewing. In simple terms the story of Pulp Fiction is about Butch from being told the history of the watch that belonged to his father, that becomes symbolic and important to him, to when he throws the fight and escapes, then leaving the motel.

 

 

The plot of this film, however are the little events that occur during the story. In the case of Pulp Fiction they are told in a series of flashbacks and flash-forwards. There are also references throughout Pulp Fiction of events that happen before the film. These references also make up the story.

 As the plot of Pulp Fiction is not told in chronological order the audience have to rearrange and piece together all the various scenes to be able to understand the story. The flashbacks and flash-forwards tell the audience several key points in the film. They tell the viewer why Jules and Vincent go to the diner and what happens to Vincent after he and Jules deliver the briefcase to Marcellus.

 The scenes in which Butch feature also give us an explanation of what happens to Vincent.  After the shooting in which Jules and Vincent survive, Jules lets it be known to Vincent that he wishes to retire. But in the scene before this plot Vincent has been killed by Butch in Butch’s apartment.

In essence the stories of Jules and Vincent, Honey Bunny and Pumpkin, Marcellus and Mia are all part of the plot that tells the story of Pulp Fiction.

 

The plot of Pulp Fiction has ten main events:

1. Pumpkin and Honey Bunny rob the diner
2. Jules and Vincent go to the apartment to get the briefcase
3. Butch is with Marcellus in Marcellus’ club
4. Vincent and Mia go to the diner and end up at the drug dealers house
5. The flashbacks of Butch as a young boy
6. Butch throws the fight and escapes from the venue and goes to a motel via taxi
7. In his apartment Butch kills Vincent then Butch and Marcellus end up in the shop basement
8. Butch leaves the motel on a motorbike
9. Jimmy’s house
10. Jules and Vincent challenge Pumpkin and Honey Bunny in the diner

If the events appeared in the order of the story they would be as follows:

 The flashbacks of Butch as a young boy

1. Jules and Vincent go to the apartment to get the briefcase
2. Jimmy’s house
3. Pumpkin and Honey Bunny rob the diner
4. Jules and Vincent challenge Pumpkin and Honey Bunny in the diner
5. Butch is with Marcellus in Marcellus’ club
6. Vincent and Mia go to the diner and end up at the drug dealers house
7. Butch throws the fight and escapes from the venue and goes to a motel via taxi
8. In his apartment Butch kills Vincent then Butch and Marcellus end up in the shop basement
9. Butch leaves the motel on a motorbike.