RP3 – Narrative Sequences

The first narrative sequence I decided to explore is a scene from the sitcom Broad City. The narrated sequential scenes demonstrate the response to an unwarranted comment from a stranger on the street.

Figure 1 – Scenes from the television series Broad City demonstrating narrative sequences (Broad City quotes 2019).

The dynamic scenes have been filmed to communicate to the viewer that the man in the background is muttering an uncalled-for comment at the women casually strolling down the street. The scene is amplified by the man slightly turning towards the woman with a look of disrespect, diverting the focus from the extras in the background utilized to create an atmosphere. The technique becomes more apparent throughout scene two as the three begin to interact. The final scene in the sequence shows the women responding without words, exaggerating their smiles humorously and childishly. The response signifies the message they’re trying to portray, indicating the man as unjustified, malicious, and childish. 

The second narrative sequence I decided to explore is a series of illustrative scenes establishing a relatable morning routine.

Figure 2 – A storyboard illustrating a morning routine as an example of a narrative sequence (Pinterest, n.d.).

The lengthy sequences show a range of highly developed illustrations communicating the mundane tasks humans characteristically perform daily. The scenes portray a sense of sleepiness as they progress through the stages of getting ready for work without the need for narration. The highly detailed illustrations communicate the message clearly to the viewers in an artistic style. 

The final narrative sequence I decided to explore is a short comedic storyboard expressing the avoidance of a serious topic in a happy-go-lucky and relatable way.

Figure 3 – Short storyboard illustrating a comedic narrative sequence (Pinterest, n.d.).

The first scene shows a deflated woman expressing her feelings to a frog. The unrealistic approach brings personality and uniqueness to the story. The second scene demonstrates her response to the matter, in a realistic way of escaping our own thoughts. The woman feels as though making drastic changes to her appearance will make her feel like a new woman, therefore diminishing her real feelings of depression. Scenes three and four communicate the frog’s response to her theory in an honest manner. The illustrations and colours throughout the sequence communicate the message in a light-hearted fashion.

The sequence I designed is a light-hearted play on the phrase ‘digging a hole to China’.

Figure 4 – Developed sequence – scene one.
Figure 5 – Developed sequence – scene two.
Figure 6 – Developed sequence – scene three.

I decided to use this phrase in the context of a dog hiding a bone in a field. The first scene is capturing the dog and the initial thought of needing to hide the bone. This is a simple introduction to the following scenes. The second scene illustrates the dog’s thoughts when digging a shallow hole in the ground with the play on the established phrase. The final scene communicates the outcome of the dog hiding the bone. The bone is still visible, exaggerating the phrase with contradiction in a humorous manner, using a final thought bubble.

Figure 7 – Developed sequence – scene one.
Figure 8 – Developed sequence – scene two.
Figure 9 – Developed sequence – scene three.

References

17+ Abbi and Ilana Friendship Quotes: TV shows funny, Broad City, Broad City quotes (2019) Pinterest. Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/737675613948323662/ (Accessed: October 20, 2022). 

Pinterest. (n.d.). My Little Comics About Daily Life | Storyboard illustration, Storyboard drawing, Comic illustration. [online] Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/698339485989773221/ [Accessed 20 Oct. 2022].‌

Pinterest. (n.d.). Pin on Cartoon Inspirations. [online] Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/698339485989768521/ [Accessed 20 Oct. 2022].‌

Related Posts

Scroll to Top