O universo diegético em narrativas seriadas: interrupções cronológicas e “multicronias” em This Is Us

Abstract

The series This is Us, created by Dan Fogelman, is characterized as the corpus of the thesis in which I investigate chronological interruptions through analepses (flashback) and prolepsis (flashforward) inserted in the diegetic universe of serial narratives. The problem-question of the study revolves around the fact that the serial narrative presents temporal bridges between past, present and future in a consecutive and sequential way, within the diegetic universe of the plot and no longer in isolation, according to notes from studies already published. The theme that emerges to guide the thesis is: the construction of serial narratives, through chained temporal dynamics, inserted in the diegetic universe. The study problematizes the existence, or not, of robust and applicable theories that justify the use of prolepsis and analepses associated with the present time, in a consecutive and chained way. The hypothesis is based on the premise of the inexistence of a solid and consistent theory, capable of explaining the phenomenon of the chaining of temporal bridges considering the present time, the past and the future. The general objective is to identify and/or create concepts and theoretical assumptions capable of justifying and supporting the use of anachronies in a consecutive and linked character, within the same filmic narrative, to give meaning to the story and, thus, sew the plot that is presented. In this context, I seek to achieve five specific objectives, namely: the first aims to understand the concept of serial narrative, its theoretical assumptions, models and characteristics; The second seeks to understand the impact of the pandemic caused by the coronavirus on the consumption of serial audiovisual products, mainly through streaming channels; The third presents the composition of the diegetic universe, based on the concept of diegesis, the elements that compose it and the importance of building characters consistent with the fictional narrative that is intended to be created. The fourth aims to understand and identify the temporal dynamics inserted in serial narratives, mainly through anachronies. The fifth and final specific objective intends to analyze the first five seasons of the series to verify the presence of anachronies and the applicability of the new concept “multicrony” in the temporal dynamics of the narrative. To do so, I use the film analysis methodology, through criteria previously established and which should guide the processes of the cut material. I organize the thesis into three chapters: in the first I present the concepts about the serial narrative and contextualize the pandemic moment relating it to the way of consuming television series. Authors such as Arlindo Machado, Omar Calabrese and Umberto Eco are mentioned to support the theoretical framework; in the second, I discuss the concept of diegesis and its elements when included in the diegetic universe of a film narrative, in addition to contextualizing the process of building characters relevant to the story. Authors such as Francis Vanoye, Gérard Genette, Renata Pallottini, among others, contribute to the theoretical basis of this section; The third deals with the concept and contextualization of anachronies, based on the thinking of Gérard Genette, Jacques Aumont and Fracois Jost. The chapter also presents the proposal for a conceptual definition of multichrony, considering the theoretical path developed in the study and including another point of view, based on the assumptions of Gilles Deleuze (2007), related to memory-image and dream-image. Also in chapter three, the analysis of the 88 episodes of the series is carried out, where I apply the concepts related to anachrony and multichrony.