Evolution+of+Storytelling

back to screenwriting

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.
 * Evolution of Storytelling**

> 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”.