Evolution of Storytelling

1)   History lessons make better writers

a)   The Greek playwrights started the Western dramatic arts:

i) Poet Thespis introduced actors who spoke separately from the chorus, gave them monologues, masks, and makeup; Aeschylus developed second actor, costumes, and scenery; Sophocles added a third actor, making intricate plots possible.

ii) Euripides wrote about ordinary people, using natural dialogue- contrast with most Greek plays, which had deep moral and religious elements.

b)   Aristotle and the Three Act Structure

i) Aristotle- Greek philosopher and dramatist.  Developed three-act structure- Stories must have a beginning, middle, and end, and the plot must be the main focus, not the characters.

ii) Coined terms “reversal of situation”-“a change by which the action veers round to its opposite” and also “recognition”-“a change from ignorance to knowledge.” Two parts then, of the plot- reversal of situation and recognition- turn upon surprises”

c)    Shakespeare and the Romans

i) Ancient Romans were poets first and playwrights second, so most of their contributions are the preservation of old stories rather than original works.

ii) In medieval times, after the fall of Rome, only plays with religious themes were performed- works could be distributed only if the church approved it.

iii) Shakespeare lifted many plots and themes straight from Roman artists- based “Comedy of Errors” off of “The Twin Brothers” by Roman playwright Plautus.

d)   Classic stories are immortal

i) Classic stories are remade and adapted constantly.  The Iliad, Jason & the Argonauts, Beowulf- all have been retold constantly and remade as films.  Examine history, mythology to write a truly epic screenplay

e)   Hegel, Freud, and Stanislavsky

i) German philosopher Hegel developed the theory that self-development results from a conflict of opposites. 

(1)Any thesis has an incompleteness that causes its own antithesis, or opposition, to arise.  When the thesis and antithesis synthesize, a third point of view comes about because of these opposing forces and the conflict is resolved at a higher level of truth- then comes a new thesis and resulting antithesis- this is the basis of Conflict and Resolution.

ii)    Sigmund Freud, psychoanalyst, felt that society creates mechanisms for controlling human instincts.  The wish to push aside guilt is called “repression”- instantly creates inner conflict.

iii)   Russian actor-producer Stanislavsky created Method acting

(1)    Discovered that, by recalling old, troubled feelings or traumatic experiences while doing a scene, actors could be more believable- emotional mindset was all important.

f)  Carl Jung and the symbolic world

i)      Thought repressed thoughts and feelings had great impact on individuals, but believed in a “collective unconscious” that contained “archetypes” symbolically manifested in the great stories of the world.  Believed even dreams have a story-like, dramatic structure.

g)   Joseph Campbell’s Myths

i)      Campbell believed all great stories of mankind had a similar pattern, called “myth structure”.  Wrote classic discussion of mythology and storytelling “Hero With a Thousand Faces”.