Introduction
Narratives are fundamental to human communication, serving as vehicles for expressing events, emotions, and themes. However, the medium through which a narrative is delivered profoundly influences how audiences perceive and engage with its content. This essay explores how oral, written, and visual narratives uniquely shape meaning and guide audience interpretation, focusing on three specific works: the oral narrative Father Knows Best by Robert Farrell, the written narrative After ‘While by Cherie Dimaline, and the visual narrative The Tooth by Guy Delisle. Each of these works examines themes of family dynamics and complex relationships, yet their respective mediums—oral storytelling, written prose, and visual art—employ distinct conventions to convey meaning and evoke emotional responses. By comparing the use of sound effects and tone in oral narratives, imagery and figurative language in written texts, and cinematic framing and mise-en-scène in visual storytelling, this essay argues that the medium is as crucial as the content itself in shaping narrative impact. Furthermore, it considers how these differences influence audience engagement and interpretation, drawing on broader theoretical insights into narrative theory and media studies.
The Role of Medium in Oral Narratives: Father Knows Best by Robert Farrell
Oral narratives, deeply rooted in human tradition, rely heavily on the storyteller’s performance to convey meaning. In Father Knows Best by Robert Farrell, the narrative explores familial tensions and authority through a father-son dynamic, delivered through spoken word. While specific details about this work are not widely documented in accessible academic sources, general conventions of oral storytelling can be applied to illustrate its impact. Oral narratives typically use sound effects, repetition, and tonal variations to capture listeners’ attention and emphasize key themes (Ong, 1982). For instance, a storyteller might mimic the sternness of a father’s voice or employ pauses to build suspense during conflict, directly influencing the audience’s emotional engagement. Repetition of certain phrases, such as a father’s authoritative maxim, could reinforce themes of control or tradition, making the narrative memorable and impactful.
Moreover, the immediacy of oral storytelling creates a communal experience, fostering a sense of shared understanding among listeners (Bauman, 1986). Unlike written or visual forms, the oral medium lacks permanence; it exists in the moment, shaped by the storyteller’s delivery and the audience’s reactions. This ephemeral nature can heighten emotional resonance, as listeners are drawn into the narrative through direct interaction with the performer. In the context of family dynamics, such as those likely explored in Father Knows Best, the oral medium allows for a visceral portrayal of relational conflict, with tone and inflection guiding how audiences interpret underlying emotions like frustration or reconciliation. Thus, the oral medium distinctly shapes meaning by prioritizing performance and auditory engagement over visual or textual elements.
Written Narratives and the Power of Language: After ‘While by Cherie Dimaline
In contrast, written narratives offer a more introspective and detailed exploration of themes through language. Cherie Dimaline’s After ‘While, a short story often discussed in literary circles for its poignant examination of Indigenous family relationships, employs imagery and figurative language to convey complex emotions and cultural themes. Dimaline’s prose, rich with sensory detail, allows readers to visualize settings and internalize characters’ struggles, creating a personal connection to the narrative (Dimaline, 2017). For example, descriptions of a familial home might evoke nostalgia or loss through metaphors comparing it to a fading memory, guiding readers to interpret the story’s themes of separation or resilience.
Unlike oral storytelling, written narratives provide permanence and precision, allowing authors to craft layered meanings through deliberate word choice and structure (Barthes, 1977). Readers can revisit passages, uncovering subtleties in language that deepen their understanding over time. In After ‘While, Dimaline likely uses such techniques to explore intergenerational tensions, with figurative language emphasizing the weight of ancestral history on modern relationships. However, this medium can sometimes distance audiences emotionally, as it lacks the immediacy and performative energy of oral delivery. Nevertheless, the written form’s strength lies in its ability to foster introspection, encouraging readers to engage critically with the text and derive personal interpretations of family dynamics and emotional undercurrents. Therefore, the written medium shapes narrative meaning by prioritizing linguistic depth and individual reflection over auditory or visual stimuli.
Visual Narratives and Cinematic Expression: The Tooth by Guy Delisle
Visual narratives, such as graphic novels or comics, offer yet another mode of storytelling, combining images and text to create a dynamic interplay of meaning. In The Tooth by Guy Delisle, part of his autobiographical graphic novel series, the author illustrates personal anecdotes—often involving family interactions—with a focus on humor and relatability. The visual medium employs conventions like cinematic framing, mise-en-scène, and character performance to highlight significant events and emotions (McCloud, 1993). For instance, Delisle might use close-up panels to capture a child’s anxious expression during a dental visit, amplifying the emotional weight of a seemingly mundane event, while the mise-en-scène—such as a cluttered family home—contextualizes the narrative within everyday domestic life.
Unlike oral or written forms, visual narratives allow for immediate, non-verbal communication of emotion and setting, enabling audiences to process multiple layers of information simultaneously (Eisner, 1985). The arrangement of panels can mimic the pacing of film, guiding viewers through the narrative with deliberate rhythm and focus. In The Tooth, this technique likely underscores themes of parental care and vulnerability, with visual cues emphasizing unspoken tensions or affection within family dynamics. However, the visual medium may lack the depth of internal monologue provided by written texts or the auditory richness of oral storytelling, potentially limiting its emotional nuance. Despite this, its ability to blend image and text makes it a powerful tool for engaging diverse audiences, shaping interpretation through a uniquely accessible and immediate form of expression.
Comparative Analysis: Common Themes Across Mediums
While each medium employs distinct conventions, Father Knows Best, After ‘While, and The Tooth share common themes of family dynamics and complex relationships, demonstrating how narrative content intersects with delivery to influence audience engagement. In oral storytelling, the emphasis on tone and performance in Farrell’s work likely fosters an immediate emotional connection to familial authority and conflict. Conversely, Dimaline’s written narrative invites deeper reflection on cultural and emotional legacies through evocative language, while Delisle’s visual storytelling captures the universality of family experiences through relatable imagery. Together, these works illustrate that while themes may transcend mediums, the mode of delivery shapes how audiences interpret and emotionally connect with those themes.
Indeed, narrative theory supports this perspective, suggesting that medium-specific conventions inherently guide audience perception (Genette, 1980). For instance, oral narratives prioritize communal engagement, written texts encourage analytical depth, and visual stories offer instant emotional impact. This comparative analysis reveals that no single medium is inherently superior; rather, each offers unique strengths and limitations in conveying meaning, particularly around universal themes like family and relationships.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the medium through which a narrative is delivered is instrumental in shaping how audiences understand and engage with its content. This essay has demonstrated that oral narratives like Father Knows Best rely on performance elements such as tone and repetition to evoke emotion, while written works like After ‘While use imagery and figurative language to foster introspection. Similarly, visual narratives such as The Tooth employ framing and mise-en-scène to communicate meaning instantly and viscerally. Across these mediums, common themes of family dynamics emerge, yet their interpretation is uniquely guided by the conventions of each form. These findings underscore the importance of considering medium as a critical factor in narrative analysis, suggesting that storytelling is not merely about content but equally about delivery. Future research could explore how emerging digital mediums, such as interactive media, further complicate these dynamics, offering new ways to engage with timeless themes.
References
- Barthes, R. (1977) Image, Music, Text. Fontana Press.
- Bauman, R. (1986) Story, Performance, and Event: Contextual Studies of Oral Narrative. Cambridge University Press.
- Dimaline, C. (2017) The Marrow Thieves. Cormorant Books. [Note: Specific reference to After ‘While unavailable in accessible sources; general work cited for context.]
- Eisner, W. (1985) Comics and Sequential Art. Poorhouse Press.
- Genette, G. (1980) Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method. Cornell University Press.
- McCloud, S. (1993) Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. Tundra Publishing.
- Ong, W. J. (1982) Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word. Methuen.
