the complexity of narrative (or how a painting tells a story) lene yding pedersen aalborg university
TRANSCRIPT
The complexity of narrative The complexity of narrative (or how a painting tells a (or how a painting tells a story)story)
Lene Yding PedersenLene Yding Pedersen
Aalborg UniversityAalborg University
NARRATIVE THEORY MEETS COMPLEXITY NARRATIVE THEORY MEETS COMPLEXITY THEORY – some advantagesTHEORY – some advantages
Complexity theory allows narrative as a Complexity theory allows narrative as a dynamic conceptdynamic concept
Complexity theory is a way of theorizing Complexity theory is a way of theorizing post-classical narratologypost-classical narratology
Complexity theory may solve the Complexity theory may solve the paradox of ’postmodern/poststructural paradox of ’postmodern/poststructural narratology’narratology’
Complexity theory may lead towards a Complexity theory may lead towards a ’cultural narratology’.’cultural narratology’.
PART 1PART 1
What is complex about narrative?What is complex about narrative? What is narrative about painting?What is narrative about painting?
PART 2PART 2
How are narratives constructed in How are narratives constructed in paintings?paintings?
NARRATIVES ARE NARRATIVES ARE COMPLEXCOMPLEX
Narratives are Narratives are unstable, unstable, irreducible, irreducible, contradictory, contradictory, incoherent, and incoherent, and contextualized contextualized constructs.constructs.
Narratives evoke Narratives evoke storiesstories
Stories have 1. a Stories have 1. a spatial dimension, spatial dimension, 2. a temporal 2. a temporal dimension, 3. a dimension, 3. a logical, mental logical, mental and formal and formal dimension. (Ryan)dimension. (Ryan)
NARRATIVE PAINTINGS – NARRATIVE PAINTINGS – basic assumptionsbasic assumptions
Painting is a narrative medium Painting is a narrative medium without a language channelwithout a language channel
Painting specializes in retelling Painting specializes in retelling known narrativesknown narratives
Narrative painting has a temporal Narrative painting has a temporal dimension.dimension.
NARRATIVE PAINTING – NARRATIVE PAINTING – further assumptionsfurther assumptions
Narratives constructed from narrative Narratives constructed from narrative paintings are emergent narrativespaintings are emergent narratives
Narratives constructed from narrative Narratives constructed from narrative paintings are contextualized paintings are contextualized constructsconstructs
Narratives constructed from Narratives constructed from narrative paintings project narrative paintings project themselves historically.themselves historically.
EMERGENT NARRATIVESEMERGENT NARRATIVES
ContextContext TimeTime Self-reflexivitySelf-reflexivity screensscreens
NARRATIVES ARE NARRATIVES ARE COMPLEX SYSTEMSCOMPLEX SYSTEMS
Narrative is a dynamic conceptNarrative is a dynamic concept Narratives emerge as different Narratives emerge as different
elements interactelements interact Narratives are open systems Narratives are open systems
interacting with the world around itinteracting with the world around it Narratives evolve through time.Narratives evolve through time.