Caribbean media arts the 7 basic plots

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Concept and Story DevelopmentConcept and Story Development

A brief overview of the A brief overview of the

7 Basic Plots7 Basic Plots(and their many manifestations)(and their many manifestations)

THE SEVEN BASIC PLOTSTHE SEVEN BASIC PLOTS 1 - [wo]man vs. nature 1 - [wo]man vs. nature 2 - [wo]man vs. man 2 - [wo]man vs. man 3 - [wo]man vs. the environment 3 - [wo]man vs. the environment 4 - [wo]man vs. machines/technology 4 - [wo]man vs. machines/technology 5 - [wo]man vs. the supernatural 5 - [wo]man vs. the supernatural 6 - [wo]man vs. self 6 - [wo]man vs. self 7 - [wo]man vs. god/religion7 - [wo]man vs. god/religion

And….And….

There are also claims made that there There are also claims made that there are are

seven basic needs to seven basic needs to a storylinea storyline..

seven basic needs to a storylineseven basic needs to a storyline

1. A hero – the person through whose 1. A hero – the person through whose eyes we see the story unfold, set eyes we see the story unfold, set against a larger background.against a larger background.

2. The hero’s character flaw – a 2. The hero’s character flaw – a weakness or defense mechanism weakness or defense mechanism that hinders the hero in such a way that hinders the hero in such a way as to render him/her incomplete.as to render him/her incomplete.

seven basic needs to a storylineseven basic needs to a storyline

3. Enabling circumstances – the surroundings the 3. Enabling circumstances – the surroundings the hero is in at the beginning of the story, which hero is in at the beginning of the story, which allow the hero to maintain his/her character flaw.allow the hero to maintain his/her character flaw.

4. An opponent – someone who opposes the hero 4. An opponent – someone who opposes the hero in getting or doing what he/she wants. Not always in getting or doing what he/she wants. Not always a villain. For example, in a romantic comedy, the a villain. For example, in a romantic comedy, the opponent could be the man or woman whom the opponent could be the man or woman whom the hero seeks romance with. The opponent is the hero seeks romance with. The opponent is the person who instigates the life-changing event.person who instigates the life-changing event.

seven basic needs to a storylineseven basic needs to a storyline

5. The hero’s ally – the person who spends 5. The hero’s ally – the person who spends the most time with the heroand who helps the most time with the heroand who helps the hero overcome his/her character flaw.the hero overcome his/her character flaw.

6. The life-changing event – a challenge, 6. The life-changing event – a challenge, threat or opportunity usually instigated by threat or opportunity usually instigated by the opponent, which forces the hero to the opponent, which forces the hero to respond in some way that’s related to the respond in some way that’s related to the hero’s flaw.hero’s flaw.

seven basic needs to a storylineseven basic needs to a storyline

7. Jeopardy – the high stakes that the 7. Jeopardy – the high stakes that the hero must risk to overcome his/her hero must risk to overcome his/her flaw. These are the dramatic events flaw. These are the dramatic events that lend excitement and challenge that lend excitement and challenge to the quest. to the quest.

But…..But…..

There is another There is another point of view on the point of view on the

7 basic plots….7 basic plots….

7 basic plots7 basic plots1.Overcoming the monster -- defeating 1.Overcoming the monster -- defeating

some force which threatens...e.g. some force which threatens...e.g. most Hollywood movies; Star Wars, most Hollywood movies; Star Wars, James Bond.James Bond.

2. The Quest -- typically a group setoff 2. The Quest -- typically a group setoff in search of something and in search of something and (usually) find it. e.g. Watership (usually) find it. e.g. Watership Down, Pilgrim's Progress.Down, Pilgrim's Progress.

3. Journey and Return -- the hero 3. Journey and Return -- the hero journeys away from home to journeys away from home to somewhere different and finally somewhere different and finally comes back having experienced comes back having experienced something and maybe changed for something and maybe changed for the better. e.g. Wizard of Oz, the better. e.g. Wizard of Oz, Gullivers Travels.Gullivers Travels.

7 basic plots7 basic plots4. Comedy - not necessarily a funny 4. Comedy - not necessarily a funny

plot. Some kind of misunderstanding plot. Some kind of misunderstanding or ignorance is created that keeps or ignorance is created that keeps parties apart which is resolved parties apart which is resolved towards the end bringing them back towards the end bringing them back together. e.g. Bridget Jones Diary, together. e.g. Bridget Jones Diary, War and Peace.War and Peace.

7 basic plots7 basic plots5. Tragedy - Someone is tempted in 5. Tragedy - Someone is tempted in

some way, vanity, greed etc and some way, vanity, greed etc and becomes increasingly desperate or becomes increasingly desperate or trapped by their actions until at a trapped by their actions until at a climax they usually die. Unless it's a climax they usually die. Unless it's a Hollywood movie, when they escape Hollywood movie, when they escape to a happy ending. e.g. Devils' to a happy ending. e.g. Devils' Advocate, Hamlet.Advocate, Hamlet.

7 basic plots7 basic plots6. Rebirth - hero is captured or 6. Rebirth - hero is captured or

oppressed and seems to be in a state oppressed and seems to be in a state of living death until it seems all is of living death until it seems all is lost when miraculously they are lost when miraculously they are freed. e.g. Snow White.freed. e.g. Snow White.

7 basic plots7 basic plots7. Rags to Riches - self explanatory 7. Rags to Riches - self explanatory

really. e.g. Cinderella & derivatives really. e.g. Cinderella & derivatives (all 27,000 of them)!!! (all 27,000 of them)!!!

Concept and Story DevelopmentConcept and Story Development

A brief overview of the A brief overview of the

7 Basic Plots7 Basic Plots(and their many manifestations)(and their many manifestations)

Hands on.Hands on.Media.Media.

Training.Training.