Research and critical theory: understanding narrative theory as linked to genre (kinda complete)

Multi-strand Narrative

An example of a multi-strand film is 'Crash', the film follows a variety of characters each being highlighted by a different story, but the primary focus of the film is about racial and social tension in Los Angeles. Each characters storyline intertwines at some point with most of the other main characters.

Non-linear Narrative

An example of a non-linear film is 'Reservoir Dogs', the film depicts the events of the before and after stages of a diamond robbery gone bad. The parts of the film that show the planning of the robbery is shown after the actual robbery, and at many points during the film it switches to and from past to present. 

Linear Narrative

A film that follows the linear narrative convention is the film 'Candyman'. The film tells the story of a post-graduate student who is investigating urban legends to complete her thesis, but she ends encountering the grisly legend of the 'Candyman' who gruesomely kills his victims with a hook once they have said Candyman's name five times whilst looking into the mirror. The reason why this follows the linear narrative convention is because the story takes place in chronological order. Although there is one scene that does take place in the past, but this is just a flashback and is being narrated over by a character in the present.

Action codes

An example of a film that uses action codes is 'Iron Man'. The events all occur as a result of a previous event which then creates the story of the film. This is because Tony Stark travels to Afghanistan which is where he get's kidnapped, once he escaped with his armoured suit and then returns to America, he set's about making improvements to his Iron Man suits and continues  to fight evil until eventually he manages to save the day by defeating the villain. A film that uses action codes should be easy to follow by it's audience because they can tell why particular event have occurred.