A non-linear narrative is a technique used in storytelling, where events are presented to the viewer/reader out of chronological order. Flashbacks, flash-forwards, alternate endings and choose your own adventure, are all methods that practice the idea of a disjointed narrative.
I enjoy watching films that play with the concept of virtual time. I believe it makes for an interesting and often mind-bending experience!
Below are a couple of my favourite movies that exercise the technique of non-linear storytelling:
Pulp Fiction (1994) directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Tarantino is renowned for his ability to engage an audience through utilizing a structure that jumps back and forth in time. Pulp Fiction is made up of 3 main storylines that all intersect with each other. The viewer is exposed to ending scenes, deaths and plot twists that all happen prior to when they should if the film was running chronologically. Tarantino leaves the audience wanting to revisit scenes so we can create connections that piece the film together much like a jigsaw puzzle.
Pulp Fiction in chronological order:
Run Lola Run (1998) directed by Tom Tykwer
Run Lola Run is a great example of a non-linear narrative. There are three separate scenarios being portrayed to the viewer, however each one is actually part of the one same story. The film is about a German woman named Lola, who has to come up with 100,000 Deutsche Mark in 20 minutes to save her boyfriends life. The narrative is presented to us using three repeated scenes that all have alternate endings. Tykwer uses flashbacks and flash-forwards within a linear storyline to switch the narrative into a non-linear sequence of events. Dream immersions are also used to build the story and showcase character development between the two protagonists. It is a fast paced thriller that uses a unique storytelling technique to keep you engaged till the last minute.
Choose your own adventure books are another form on non-linear storytelling. They can be a fun way to encourage children to read and it worked for me. Not only are you reading, but also you’re playing a game at the same time. Genius.
When I was younger I used to love reading the Goosebumps series by R.L Stine, especially the ‘choose your own adventure’ spinoff, ‘Give Yourself Goosebumps’. The idea behind these books was, “Readers Beware, You Choose The Scare”. The stories are written in the second person point of view, and are formatted so that after a few pages of reading, the reader is faced with multiple options of what the character should do next. Each option leads to different outcomes, which eventually lead to one of many different endings. I remember how fun it was to read a book where I could skip through from page 3 to page 21.
Another favourite storybook of mine was Milo and the Magic Stones by Marcus Pfister. What I loved most about this book was actually the way it was printed. The last few pages of the story are split in two horizontally and the reader is offered a choice between a happy and a sad ending. Actually changing the physical layout of the book to coincide with the story being told was so effective I remember it being a favourite book between all of my friends too. It’s just another example of how non-linear storytelling can be reinvented and interpreted in a new way.
Making Networked Culture 