In narrative works, new characters can be used to introduce new elements to the story. For example, a new character could be a local guide to help the protagonist navigate a foreign location. Alternatively, a new character could be an antagonist, providing tension and conflict in the plot. A new character can also be a supporting character, providing insight and help to the protagonist on their journey. Furthermore, new characters can offer a new perspective on the story and help reveal hidden meaning and depth. A new character can also influence the way the story is told, and give a new direction to the language, discourse and techniques of the story.
Published in Chapter:
The Effects of New Characters on the Narrative Structure in Film Sequels: The Case of the Blade Runner Movies
Alper Gedik (Izmir University of Economics, Turkey) and Ümit Aydoğan (Izmir Katip Celebi University, Turkey)
Copyright: © 2023
|Pages: 17
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-7864-6.ch018
Abstract
In the movie industry, the complex cinematic universes constructed for sequels are crucial elements that strengthen the narrative continuity and bond between the audience and the story. In successful cases, this will result in a strong attachment and easy identification by the viewer, since they would emotionally relate to what and how things are represented in the film. On another aspect, sequels frequently answer ontological questions that arose in the first film. This clarification accounts to a satisfying completion in terms of overall story and feel. In order to achieve this, sequels often introduce new characters, side stories and flashbacks. This slight contribution adds to the expansion of overall cinematic experience, enriching and deepening the film texture. For this study, the 1982 film Blade Runner and its sequel Blade Runner 2049 (2017) are analyzed on how the inclusion of new characters and spaces in the cinematic universe effects the narrative structure of the films.