Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis

Osamu Okumura

doi:doi:10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15

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Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis

Osamu Okumura^*

Published in Languages, Literatures and Cultures (Volume 1, Issue 1)

Received: 6 November 2025 Accepted: 20 November 2025 Published: 26 December 2025

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Abstract

This paper introduces an innovative methodology for film narrative analysis by adapting the C4 model from software engineering to humanities scholarship. Using the hypothetical film "Oi, Ohoi" (2025)-which depicts the life of Edo period female painter Katsushika Oei-as a case study, this research demonstrates how hierarchical system modeling can illuminate complex narrative structures, character relationships, and thematic development. The C4 model's four-level abstraction (Context, Container, Component, Code) enables both macro-level contextual analysis and micro-level examination of specific expressive techniques. This interdisciplinary approach bridges information science and film studies, offering new tools for understanding how narratives function as complex systems. The methodology proves particularly effective for analyzing films with intersecting social, psychological, and artistic dimensions, revealing structural patterns invisible to traditional close reading alone.

Published in	Languages, Literatures and Cultures (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15
Page(s)	31-35
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

C4 Model, Film Analysis, Narrative Structure, Systems Thinking, Katsushika Oei, Digital Humanities, Feminist Film Theory, PlantUML

References

[1]	Director (hypothetical). (2025). Oi, Ohoi [Motion Picture].
[2]	Brown, S. (2018). Software Architecture for Developers: Volume 2. Leanpub.
[3]	Brown, S. (2020). The C4 model for visualising software architecture. https://c4model.com/
[4]	Bordwell, D. (1985). Narration in the Fiction Film. University of Wisconsin Press.
[5]	Chatman, S. (1978). Story and Discourse. Cornell University Press.
[6]	Genette, G. (1980). Narrative Discourse. Cornell University Press.
[7]	Greimas, A. J. (1983). Structural Semantics. University of Nebraska Press.
[8]	Mulvey, L. (1975). Visual pleasure and narrative cinema. Screen, 16(3), 6-18.
[9]	Nochlin, L. (1971). Why have there been no great women artists? ARTnews, 69(9), 22-39.
[10]	Meadows, D. H. (2008). Thinking in Systems. Chelsea Green Publishing.
[11]	Moretti, F. (2013). Distant Reading. Verso Books.
[12]	Manovich, L. (2020). Cultural Analytics. MIT Press.
[13]	Yoshida, Y. (2001). Katsushika Oei and Her Time. Asahi Shimbun Publications.
[14]	Screech, T. (1999). Sex and the Floating World. Reaktion Books.

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APA Style

Okumura, O. (2025). Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis. Languages, Literatures and Cultures, 1(1), 31-35. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15

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ACS Style

Okumura, O. Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2025, 1(1), 31-35. doi: 10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15

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AMA Style

Okumura O. Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis. Lang Lit Cult. 2025;1(1):31-35. doi: 10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15

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@article{10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15,
  author = {Osamu Okumura},
  title = {Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis},
  journal = {Languages, Literatures and Cultures},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {31-35},
  doi = {10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.llc.20250101.15},
  abstract = {This paper introduces an innovative methodology for film narrative analysis by adapting the C4 model from software engineering to humanities scholarship. Using the hypothetical film "Oi, Ohoi" (2025)-which depicts the life of Edo period female painter Katsushika Oei-as a case study, this research demonstrates how hierarchical system modeling can illuminate complex narrative structures, character relationships, and thematic development. The C4 model's four-level abstraction (Context, Container, Component, Code) enables both macro-level contextual analysis and micro-level examination of specific expressive techniques. This interdisciplinary approach bridges information science and film studies, offering new tools for understanding how narratives function as complex systems. The methodology proves particularly effective for analyzing films with intersecting social, psychological, and artistic dimensions, revealing structural patterns invisible to traditional close reading alone.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis
AU  - Osamu Okumura
Y1  - 2025/12/26
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DO  - 10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15
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AB  - This paper introduces an innovative methodology for film narrative analysis by adapting the C4 model from software engineering to humanities scholarship. Using the hypothetical film "Oi, Ohoi" (2025)-which depicts the life of Edo period female painter Katsushika Oei-as a case study, this research demonstrates how hierarchical system modeling can illuminate complex narrative structures, character relationships, and thematic development. The C4 model's four-level abstraction (Context, Container, Component, Code) enables both macro-level contextual analysis and micro-level examination of specific expressive techniques. This interdisciplinary approach bridges information science and film studies, offering new tools for understanding how narratives function as complex systems. The methodology proves particularly effective for analyzing films with intersecting social, psychological, and artistic dimensions, revealing structural patterns invisible to traditional close reading alone.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
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Author Information

Osamu Okumura

Independent Researcher, Tokyo, Japan

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0006-0015-938X

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APA Style

Okumura, O. (2025). Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis. Languages, Literatures and Cultures, 1(1), 31-35. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15

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ACS Style

Okumura, O. Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2025, 1(1), 31-35. doi: 10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15

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AMA Style

Okumura O. Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis. Lang Lit Cult. 2025;1(1):31-35. doi: 10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15

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@article{10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15,
  author = {Osamu Okumura},
  title = {Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis},
  journal = {Languages, Literatures and Cultures},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {31-35},
  doi = {10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.llc.20250101.15},
  abstract = {This paper introduces an innovative methodology for film narrative analysis by adapting the C4 model from software engineering to humanities scholarship. Using the hypothetical film "Oi, Ohoi" (2025)-which depicts the life of Edo period female painter Katsushika Oei-as a case study, this research demonstrates how hierarchical system modeling can illuminate complex narrative structures, character relationships, and thematic development. The C4 model's four-level abstraction (Context, Container, Component, Code) enables both macro-level contextual analysis and micro-level examination of specific expressive techniques. This interdisciplinary approach bridges information science and film studies, offering new tools for understanding how narratives function as complex systems. The methodology proves particularly effective for analyzing films with intersecting social, psychological, and artistic dimensions, revealing structural patterns invisible to traditional close reading alone.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Visualizing Film Narrative: Applying the C4 Model to "Oi, Ohoi", a Systems Approach to Narrative Structure Analysis
AU  - Osamu Okumura
Y1  - 2025/12/26
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15
DO  - 10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15
T2  - Languages, Literatures and Cultures
JF  - Languages, Literatures and Cultures
JO  - Languages, Literatures and Cultures
SP  - 31
EP  - 35
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20250101.15
AB  - This paper introduces an innovative methodology for film narrative analysis by adapting the C4 model from software engineering to humanities scholarship. Using the hypothetical film "Oi, Ohoi" (2025)-which depicts the life of Edo period female painter Katsushika Oei-as a case study, this research demonstrates how hierarchical system modeling can illuminate complex narrative structures, character relationships, and thematic development. The C4 model's four-level abstraction (Context, Container, Component, Code) enables both macro-level contextual analysis and micro-level examination of specific expressive techniques. This interdisciplinary approach bridges information science and film studies, offering new tools for understanding how narratives function as complex systems. The methodology proves particularly effective for analyzing films with intersecting social, psychological, and artistic dimensions, revealing structural patterns invisible to traditional close reading alone.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

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