1. Reality TV. Any regular viewer knows that reality television follows its own scripted formulas, but the appearance of being unscripted is essential to its appeal. Weary of so much predicable plot, the jaded viewer turns to reality.
2. Anecdotal narrative. The attraction of films such as Slacker and its mumblecore progeny (呢喃类) is the enjoyment of watching behavior impeded by the artifice of plot. It is not ―fake‖, not ―designed‖ (although of course it is).
3. Reenactment drama. Whether based on famous events or lesser-known ones, reenactment entertainment sells the premise that these events actually happened and were not cooked up by a staff of writers (though, again, if not actually cooked up, they were seasoned and served by writers).
4. Video games. The ability of the viewer to participate in the storytelling process creates an illusion of non-plan.
5. Mini-mini drama. Part of the appeal of three-to five-minute stories created for cellphones, YouTube and original programming is the illusion of not being crafted narratives. Just bits of life.
6. Documentaries. A staple of filmed entertainment since its beginnings, documentaries, historically the poor cousins of commercial cinema, have grown in number and viewership, an increase owed in part to the desire of viewers to look beyond predictable narratives.
Storytelling began as ceremony and evolved into ritual. It was commercialized in the medieval times, became big business in the 19th century and international industry in the 20th. The traditional concept of movies, a projected image in a dark room of viewers, feels increasingly old. Narrative will mutate (变异) and endure. Audio-visual entertainment is changing and narrative will change with it.
74. According to the author, scriptwriters seldom complain of having ____________.
A. been looked down upon by producers
B. suffered the exhaustion of narrative
C. been considered unimportant by directors
D. been badly treated by actors and actresses
75. In which of the following entertainment forms can the viewers take part in its narrative process?
A. Reenactment. B. Video games.
C. Mini-mini drama. D. Documentaries.
76. Which of the following statements is TRUE to the fact?
A. Narrative became commercialized in the middle age.
B. Storytelling became commercialized after the Middle Ages.
C. Narrative became a worldwide industry in the 19th century.
D. Storytelling grew into large business in the 20th century.
77. Which of the following statements is NOT in agreement with the author’s ideas?
A. Scriptwriting is nearer to the oral tradition than it is to literature.
B. Narrative exhaustion is responsible for the rise of anti-narrative entertainment.
C. It is less difficult to be original today than it was half a century ago.
D. The appearance of being unscripted is important to the appeal of Reality TV.
Section C