The first movie to use a non-linear narrative was Doctor Strange (2016).
A non-linear narrative usually referred to the story of a novel that was not linear in time or space, but showed a state of jumping, branches, or interweaving. In a non-linear narrative, the development of the story was often not in a simple order, but full of uncertainty and surprise. Non-linear narrations often appeared in science fiction, fantasy, and horror novels because these subjects often needed to show plots and worldviews that went beyond conventional logic. For example, in science fiction, the story may start from a certain point in the future. With the advancement of science and technology and the transformation of society, mankind began to face various new challenges and crises, and the plot of the story would jump and change accordingly. In fantasy novels, the story may span multiple worlds and races, and each world and race has its own history and culture, which may have a profound impact on the development of the story. In horror novels, the story might be about a seemingly ordinary night, but in fact, there were various terrifying conspiracies and truths hidden in it. The plot was often non-linear. Non-linear narration could allow the readers to understand the characters and plots in the story more deeply, and it could also enhance the tension and tension of the novel and make the readers more involved.
It allows for a more in - depth exploration of themes. Since the story isn't bound by a linear timeline, the writer can jump between different moments that are related thematically. In a short story about regret, for instance, the non - linear narrative can show different instances of regret from various points in a character's life simultaneously, which a linear narrative might not be able to do as effectively. It also gives the writer more freedom to structure the story in a way that best serves the message they want to convey.
Non-linear narration refers to the development of the story in the narrative process of the novel, which is not in accordance with the linear law, but presents a leaping, interweaving, and complicated structure. In a non-linear narrative, the time, place, and relationship between the characters would change suddenly, and the reader's perspective would also change accordingly. The narrative effect of the story would be more vivid, exciting, and easier to attract the reader's interest. Non-linear narrations often appear in science fiction, fantasy, history, biography, and other types of novels. The most common examples are the science fiction novel 2001: A Space Oasis and the fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. In a non-linear narrative, the author would usually construct a complex space-time structure that interwove different time periods, places, and characters to form a more grand and vivid story world. The advantage of a non-linear narrative was that it could better show the inner conflicts, mental struggles, and emotional changes of the characters. At the same time, it could also help the author build a more imaginative and creative story world. However, non-linear narrations also need to pay attention to the complexity of the narrative structure to avoid confusing and confusing the readers.
As a fan of web novels, I don't have any personal preferences or emotions, but I can tell you some similarities and characteristics of non-linear narrative movies. Non-linear narrative films usually used complex space-time structures to interweave the story and time sequence to bring unexpected surprises and complicated plot lines to the audience. This kind of narrative was often used to explore the complexity of human psychology and emotions, as well as to explore the relationship between time and space. The commonalities and characteristics of non-linear narrative films included: The complex space-time structure interweaved the story and time sequence. More than two protagonists with different perspectives would have different influences and explanations on the story. 3. There are complex connections between multiple time points and events. The audience needs to think carefully to understand the plot. 4. Non-linear storytelling may lead to sudden plot twists and unexpected endings. 5. Exploring the complexity of human psychology and emotions, as well as the relationship between time and space. There are many types of non-linear narrative films, some of which explore mysterious and fantasy worlds, some of which focus on social and political issues, and some of which explore human emotions and relationships. Regardless of the theme and style, these films were dedicated to bringing deep thoughts and experiences to the audience through complex space-time structures and non-linear narrations.
The linear narration of a novel meant that the plot and events of the story were linear and unfolded in a certain order, unlike other types of stories that had many jumps and turning points. In a linear narrative, the development of the story is a clear logical order, the relationship between the protagonist's actions and events is clear, and the reader can clearly see the cause and effect of the story. A linear narrative is usually suitable for describing traditional stories such as adventure stories, love stories, science fiction stories, etc. because this kind of narrative is easier to understand and remember. At the same time, a linear narrative would allow the reader to enter the story more easily and feel the tension and excitement of the plot. But a linear narrative can also make the story seem monotonous and lack change because the transition between events and plots is relatively fixed. Therefore, when writing a novel, it was necessary to choose whether to use a linear narrative or other types of narration according to the plot and the needs of the readers.
The non - linear narrative makes the movie more engaging. It keeps the audience on their toes as they try to piece together the events. For example, we first see the diner scene at the end which creates a sense of mystery and then as the movie unfolds, we understand how the characters got there.
The non - linear narrative makes the movie more engaging. It keeps the audience on their toes as they try to piece together the different storylines. It also adds an element of mystery. For example, when we first see a scene, we may not understand its full significance until later when more pieces of the puzzle are revealed.
Tarantino was influenced by his wide - ranging taste in movies from different eras and countries. He saw how non - linear narratives could create a sense of mystery and engagement. In Pulp Fiction, the non - linear style allows for these great character moments to be scattered throughout the film. It's like we're getting different pieces of a puzzle at different times, and it all comes together in a really cool, unexpected way.
Non-linear narrative mode meant that the development of the story was not in accordance with the linear time sequence, but presented a complicated plot structure and time jump. In a non-linear narrative, the beginning, ending, climax, and ending of the story were often not at the same time or space, but presented a complicated interweaving relationship. Take Kill Bill as an example. The film used a non-linear narrative model. The story took place at multiple time points and spaces, and the actions of the characters and the development of events also showed a jumping and interlaced relationship. For example, the beginning of the film tells the love story between the female lead Jaina and the male lead Bill, but the story then changes to the grudge between Bill and the other female lead Monica. The development of the plot between the two shows an obvious time jump. At the same time, at the climax of the story, the hatred between Bill and Monica reached its peak, but the ending of the story linked the fates of Bill and Jaina together. The non-linear narrative mode could enhance the complexity and tension of the story, allowing the audience to have a deeper understanding of the relationship between the characters and the emotional content in the story. At the same time, it also provided more space for the creation of the film, allowing the director to show different visual and emotional effects through the intersection and transition of the plot.
An example could be 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'. The narrative moves between different memories and time periods in a non - linear fashion. As the main character Joel has his memories of his ex - Clementine erased, we see snippets of their relationship in a jumbled order. It shows how memories are complex and interconnected, and the non - linear style helps to convey that depth.