antinarrative
|an-ti-nar-ra-tive|
/ˌæn.tiˈnær.ə.tɪv/
against narrative / rejects storytelling
Etymology
'antinarrative' originates from modern English, formed by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'narrative' (from Latin 'narrare' meaning 'to tell').
'narrative' changed from Latin 'narrare' to Old French forms and through Middle English 'narrative', eventually becoming the modern English word 'narrative'; 'anti-' was borrowed from Greek into English as a productive prefix meaning 'against' and then combined with 'narrative' in modern usage to form 'antinarrative'.
Initially, the components literally conveyed 'against telling'; over time 'antinarrative' has come to mean specifically 'opposed to or rejecting conventional narrative form or storytelling techniques' in literary and critical contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a work, text, or instance that resists, rejects, or undermines conventional narrative structure or storytelling; the quality or tendency of being non-narrative.
The film was praised for its bold antinarrative, which refused to provide a clear plot or causality.
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Adjective 1
opposed to or rejecting narrative conventions; describing a technique, style, or approach that avoids linear storytelling or coherent plot.
The director used antinarrative techniques—fragmented scenes and disrupted chronology—to challenge viewers' expectations.
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Last updated: 2025/09/04 21:36