As the film Total Recall was released in 1990 critics were confused. In their
attempts to give a summary they all created different stories. Some even figured
out some failures in the plot and for some the story line was an enigma.1
Though there was a lot of misunderstanding about this film there was also
a consens on the kind of genre the film belonged to. Fred Glass gave in his article
'Totally recalling Arnold' the film 'Total Recall' the label NBF "New Bad Future",
which has to be understood as a subgenre of the fertile SF (Science Fiction) of
the 1980's. NBF is defined as following: "NBF films tell stories about a future in the grip of feverish social decay. While some posit a post nuclear barbarism (as in
the Mad Max trilogy, ...), most envision the world that will emerge without such an
apocalyptic break with history. The NBF scenario typically embraces urban
expansion on a monstrous scale, where real estate capital has realised its fondest
dreams of cancerous growth. (...). The heroes,..., go up against the corruption and
power of the ruling corporations, which exercise a media-based velvet glove/iron
fist social control."2
Exactly these characteristics can be found in 'Total Recall'. In consequence
it could be read as a film that is following these patterns which are founded in the
1980's Science Fiction. In this respect one could argue that 'Total Recall' is a
quite traditional movie. But 'Total Recall' offers something new through using
cyberspace. This world that is defined as virtual reality mixes all the patterns and
norms of traditional SF and makes this film very special in its appearance.
As Paul Verhoeven says about his film: "For the audience every moment in
the movie seems to be real. But when you get to the next scene, you can doubt
the scene before, yeah? I'm exaggerating, because it would be really terrible to do
that to an audience; everybody would be driven crazy, probably. But every once in
a while you realise that what you saw before should have been seen in a different
way, It was not reality, or it was a misinterpreted reality."3
The narrative structure of this film is therefore extremely complicated. It
combines reality, dreams and virtual reality. Perceiving this film means having the
choice between many narrations. They all depend on the point of view the
perceiver wants to take. [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Summary of the story
- Introducing Branigan's scheme
- Application of Branigan's Narrative Scheme to 'Total Recall'
- Deviations to the classical narrative
- The Point-Of-View and the Perceivers
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The objective of this analysis is to examine the narrative structure of the film "Total Recall" (1990), specifically exploring how its complex plot, blending reality, dreams, and virtual reality, deviates from and adheres to the conventions of classical Hollywood narrative. The analysis uses Edward Branigan's narrative scheme as a framework for understanding the film's structure.
- The complexities of narrative structure in "Total Recall"
- Application of Branigan's narrative scheme to a complex film plot
- The role of point-of-view and perception in understanding the narrative
- The film's genre and its relationship to 1980s science fiction
- The blending of reality, dreams, and virtual reality within the narrative
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This chapter introduces the film "Total Recall" and its initial reception by critics, highlighting the confusion surrounding its plot and genre. It establishes the film as a "New Bad Future" (NBF) science fiction film, typical of the 1980s, characterized by societal decay and corporate control. The chapter emphasizes the film's unconventional narrative structure, blending reality, dreams, and virtual reality, and sets the stage for analyzing this complexity using a classical narrative framework.
Summary of the story: This section provides a synopsis of "Total Recall's" plot, following the protagonist, Douglas Quaid/Hauser, as he navigates a reality increasingly blurred by implanted memories and assassination attempts. It outlines the central conflict between Quaid/Hauser and Cohaagen, the corrupt ruler of Mars, and introduces key characters like Melina and Kuato. The summary highlights the protagonist's uncertain identity and the constant threat to his life, setting up the subsequent analysis of the narrative structure.
Introducing Branigan's scheme: This chapter introduces Edward Branigan's narrative scheme, a model for classifying elements within a narrative structure. It explains the eight parts of the scheme: Abstract, Orientation and Exposition, Initiating Event, Goal, Complicating Action, Climax and Resolution, Epilogue, and Narration. The scheme is illustrated using the fairy tale "The Frog and the Princess," providing a clear understanding of each component and its function within a narrative.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Narrative structure, film analysis, Total Recall, Edward Branigan, narrative scheme, science fiction, New Bad Future (NBF), virtual reality, point-of-view, perception, classical Hollywood narrative, identity, memory.
FAQ: Analyzing the Narrative Structure of "Total Recall" (1990)
What is the purpose of this analysis?
This analysis examines the narrative structure of the 1990 film "Total Recall," focusing on how its complex plot, blending reality, dreams, and virtual reality, aligns with and deviates from classical Hollywood narrative conventions. Edward Branigan's narrative scheme is used as a framework for this analysis.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
The analysis explores the complexities of "Total Recall's" narrative structure, the application of Branigan's narrative scheme to a complex film plot, the role of point-of-view and perception in understanding the narrative, the film's genre and its relationship to 1980s science fiction, and the blending of reality, dreams, and virtual reality within the narrative.
What is Edward Branigan's narrative scheme, and how is it applied?
Edward Branigan's narrative scheme is a model used to classify elements within a narrative structure. The scheme includes eight parts: Abstract, Orientation and Exposition, Initiating Event, Goal, Complicating Action, Climax and Resolution, Epilogue, and Narration. The analysis applies this scheme to "Total Recall" to understand its complex narrative structure.
What is the structure of the analysis itself?
The analysis includes an introduction, a summary of the film's plot, an explanation of Branigan's narrative scheme, an application of the scheme to "Total Recall," a discussion of deviations from classical narrative, and an examination of point-of-view and perception within the film. It also provides keywords for further research.
What aspects of "Total Recall's" narrative are examined?
The analysis examines the film's complex plot, its blending of reality, dreams, and virtual reality, its adherence to and deviations from classical Hollywood narrative conventions, the role of point-of-view and perception, and its classification within the "New Bad Future" (NBF) science fiction subgenre prevalent in the 1980s.
What are the key takeaways from the analysis?
The analysis aims to provide a structured understanding of "Total Recall's" unconventional narrative structure by utilizing a classical narrative framework. It highlights the film's unique approach to storytelling and its place within the broader context of 1980s science fiction cinema.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Narrative structure, film analysis, Total Recall, Edward Branigan, narrative scheme, science fiction, New Bad Future (NBF), virtual reality, point-of-view, perception, classical Hollywood narrative, identity, memory.
- Quote paper
- International Master of Arts Dirk Schmelz (Author), 1994, An Analysis of the complex plot of "Total Recall", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/107840