He attempts to bridge a theory of narrative that sufficiently defines the occurrence in both mediums. He defines his terms constantly throughout this work, distancing himself and aligning himself with other theorists like Bordwell, Genette. He begins by describing the texts he would like to consider. Paintings, for example, do not have an implied chronology, they depend upon the viewer s own definition of beginning and end. There must be chrono-logic.
Narrative is a text-type rather than a genre.
The other text-types are Argument and Description. All the text-types overlap and it is conceivable to experience a narrative that engages in argument for example. Chatman distinguishes between tacit and explicit description. Tacit description takes place in film, explicit description mostly in written works. Diegetic narrative or diegesis involves pure narrative.