Abstract

Nonlinear films display unconventional narratives that leave ambiguous endings that create rewatchability, making audiences want to rewatch and review the films. These films also create conversation on social media outlets and infiltrate discussion on popular culture. This rhetorical analysis examines narrative structure, narrative archetypes, and paratextuality of three nonlinear Christopher Nolan films: Inception, Interstellar, and Tenet. By examining how these different forms of narrative display the moral messaging and structure within each film, this analysis provides context in how nonlinear narratives promote rewatchability and create continuous paratexts. Through Nolan's films, nonlinear film styles create more than rewatchability as Nolan specifically uses narrative archetypes to create character archetypes. The character archetypes produce multiple narratives that allow different viewpoints for audiences. These three different films also explain that there is a thin line between ambiguous endings and rewatchability for these types of films.

Degree

College and Department

Fine Arts and Communications; Communications

Rights

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