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Storytelling foundations By Brett Oppegaard Washington State University – Vancouver Creative Media and Digital Culture 354.02 Digital Storytelling (Fall 2010)
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What are the 6 elements of drama? As defined by Aristotle in “Poetics” Plot – What happens in the play, “arrangement of the incidents,” with beginning, middle and end Characters – Who carries out those actions, also symbolic, and interwoven with the plot Thought – What those actions mean symbolically, the theme(s) Diction – How those characters express themselves, from language to dialogue to delivery Song – More than just music, the rhythm and melody of speech as well Spectacle – Visual support... scenery, costumes, special effects
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What are the 7 plots? As defined by British literary critic Christopher Booker Tragedy – Flawed hero meets tragic end, MacBeth Comedy – Happy ending, romanticism, A Midsummer Night's Dream “Overcoming a monster” – Toppling all-powerful evil, Frankenstein “Voyage and return” – Leaving home, returning changed. Alice in Wonderland “The Quest” – Mission/mission accomplished, or not, Lord of the Rings “Rags to Riches” – The Horatio Alger myth “Rebirth” – Central character is transformed, A Christmas Carol
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Hemingway's 6-word story “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” Complication. Resolution. All people have basic needs, such as food, water, shelter, love, companionship, etc., which leads to complications and endlessly interesting resolutions
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What are the 45 master characters? As defined by American screenwriter Victoria Lynn Schmidt Female heroes / villains Aphrodite – Seductive muse / Femme fatale Artemis – Amazon / Gorgon Athena – Father's daughter / Backstabber Demeter – Nurturer / Overcontrolling mother Hera – Matriarch / Scorned woman Hestia – Mystic / Betrayer Isis – Messiah / Destroyer Persephone – Maiden / Troubled teen
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What are the 45 master characters? As defined by American screenwriter Victoria Lynn Schmidt Male heroes / villains Apollo – Businessman / Traitor Ares – Protector / Gladiator Hades – Recluse / Warlock Hermes – Fool / Derelict Dionysus – Woman's man / Seducer Osiris – Messiah / Punisher Poseidon – Artist / Abuser Zeus – King / Dictator
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What are the 45 master characters? As defined by American screenwriter Victoria Lynn Schmidt Supporting cast Friends – Magi, mentor, best friend, lover Rivals – Joker, jester, nemesis, investigator, pessimist, psychic Symbols – Shadow, lost soul, double
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Foundations Protagonist Antagonist Setting Complication Passage of time / chronology Denouement Wolfe's four devices: Point of view / scene by scene construction / dialogue / status life
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