Theory: The Visual Story

- Block, B (2008), The Visual Story, 2nd edn

Quotations & References


Chapter 9: Story and Visual Structure

Exposition (beginning), Conflict (Middle), Resolution (End)

Story and Visual Structure:

Exposition = "The facts needed to begin the story" e.g. Character identity, plot situation, time period etc...

• Audience needs exposition to become involved in the story ore else "they're distracted with trying to fill in the missing exposition."
• Exposition does not necessarily have to be only at beginning. It can be non-linear like in Citizen Kane or consistent when introducing new story elements like in Harry Potter. It can also be constant narration like in The Shawshank Redemption. It can also be a title crawl like in "Star Wars"

Conflict and Climax:

• develops in the middle of story and grows more intense
• conflict can be internal and/or external
• "An internal conflict involves an emotional struggle"
• "An external conflict involves a physical situation"
• They can exist together
• The climax is "the most intense part of the conflict", "the main character must choose a path and win or lose", "the internal or external conflict must end"

Resolution:

• "Provides a place for the story to finish"
• Used for the audience to "recover from the intensity of the climax and reflect on the story's conflict"
• Also used for "secondary plot situations and characters" to finish their story (like in Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them)
• They can be long (like in Fantastic Beasts) or short (like in North by Northwest) 
• Resolutions with more information use narration like in The Shawshank Redemption or Father of the Bride.

Story Structure Graphs:

Bruce Block's book The Visual Story has proven to be very useful in my theory and research as he maps out the idea of story as a physical set of sequences and acts which make it a lot easier to decipher it in film. This is something I aim to do when re-watching some of my favourite films.