Date post: | 01-Nov-2014 |
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Stories and Structure
byJoan Vinall-Cox
Story Basics
Why stories are powerful
Story patterns
Story rhythms
Bred in the Bone
We humans create stories It’s how we think!
Like seeing images in an ink-blot We link events into a plot
We organize what we perceive to create
meaning
Psst! Did you hear about…
Gossip, news, the spin …
Scientific formulas, math equations
ALL are STORIES with implicit or explicit plots
The Plot Sickens…
Chronicles vs. Plots Chronicle
A list Plot
Beginning (The Set Up) Middle (Where Significant Change Occurs) End (Definitely Different)
What is a Story ?
The difference between a story and a chronicle
is cause and effect
A chronicle is a list of events
A story has a plot – a pattern of cause & effect
A Chronicle
The queen died.
Then the king died.
A Story (with a plot)
The queen died
Then the king died of grief!
Two actions united by answering the
question Why?
All stories have plots
With a story, the viewer wants to know the causes –
why? who? what? and maybe when?
What is a Plot? A plot is a blueprint of human behavior
A plot is made up of patterns of feelings and actions
A plot makes connections, makes events meaningful
Plots & riddles
Essentially plots are
riddles mysteries a game played between audience & writer
with clues
Story Structure
the dramatic structure is powerful! The story rhythm
Aristotle said it first!
No serious disagreement since Aristotle wrote about Drama over 2000 years ago
There is a story rhythm! First act = ¼ of the time Second act = 1/2 of the time Third act = ¼ of the time
Rising Action &Turning Points
A story can be diagrammed
Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Climax &
Set up Transition Resolution
Story Rhythm
Not only for the whole story
For each sub-plot
For each individual scene, too Probably innate too
Interactive Stories We always bring our expectations
We choose our favorite plots
Even with new technology Follow the same patterns,
Follow the same rhythms
Games give choices at the traditional Turning Points
Story Basics
Humans ‘story’ – it’s innate
Plot creates meaning – perception shapes and is shaped by plot
Structure Attention created by the dramatic rhythm