Analyzing Narrative Distance in Prophet Yusuf's Story: A Comparative Study of Textual and Visual Media

Abstract

Objectives: The paper investigates the relationships between the different narrative media that have re-presented the story of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) by comparing narrative texts. The study seeks to analyze the functions of narrative distance and its impact on presenting the story, highlighting how it is employed in written and visual mediums to influence the audience's sense of closeness or detachment from events and characters.

Methods: The research adopts the "comparative narratology" approach, grounded in the concept of "narrative distance" as proposed by Genette. Four narrative models were selected for comparative analysis, focusing on their artistic and dramatic structures, with particular attention to the role of narrative distance in conveying the message to the audience.

Results: The study revealed key differences in the use of narrative distance across mediums. Written narratives focused on characters' inner emotions and thoughts, fostering deep audience empathy, while visual mediums provided a broader perspective through external narration. Differences in adapting dialogues from the original text also led to varying interpretations and presentations of events.

Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of narrative distance in reintroducing the story of Prophet Yusuf across different mediums and its role in influencing the audience's proximity to or detachment from the events. The research recommends further comparative studies of narrative texts across various mediums, striving for a balance between fidelity to the original text and narrative creativity to preserve the text's uniqueness while ensuring impact.