Creating a Narrative

In the first half of today we were split up into groups and asked to create our own narratives from a group of about 4-50 images. Once we had created the narratives we had to look at other groups and think about what they were trying to convey.

I created this narrative, which a few people from the other groups understood. This actually filled me with a bit of confidence for when I make a narrative for this module, seeing as I'll be taking my own photographs. The story I intended to put across was that of depression, the derelict house is a metaphor for the derelict/ haphazard mind of someone with a mental illness. The lock signifies that a lot of people keep their illnesses hidden and locked away; the last two images signify death - the note on the table a suicide note - the last image is cliché to me, but it was a group decision to add it in to create the sense of death more obviously.  

We tried for a circular narrative with this piece, the first image shows an empty, dirty room; the second? A pair of hands rolling a cigarette, we tried to get a sense of addiction across not just to nicotine but to drugs. But there is hope as the subject finds help through faith... however after a while the circle starts again - an unfortunate cycle with drug addicts.  

The narrative of this piece is meant to be read from the centre out, I instantly thought of agoraphobia (the fear of the outside) as she looks enclosed and trapped within her house. We also discussed the possibility of her dreaming/ pining for a nicer house, however  every room is empty which seems significant. Does the subject wish to be left alone? Or is she so used to being alone she can't imagine anyone with her?

I thought that the passage of time was conveyed very nicely in this narrative, I feel that it also shows a normal, every day routine. The glasses on the table could be on a bedside table, so the image shows the subject waking up; perhaps the subject goes for a coffee every morning. The routine of cigarette rolling could be at certain times too. Although it is a seemingly simple narrative I think it is highly effective.