Dramatica, Eastern storytelling, passive MCs
Posted: Feb 04, 2016 5:15 pm
Dramatica theory states the model is for western thinking stories... active protagonist, conflict, and character arc... telling all sides of the issues and the solution.
But in various translated stories I've read of the Eastern variety, it's often the reverse. The MC is passive, the victim of his/her environment or the villain. We follow the story of the MC to understand what they are going through and why, and the character arc is usually being steadfast in their honor, but no great change like in western stories. Also, resolution and conflict is not needed in the way in western stories do.
All that being said, as a personal exercise, there's a few such stories that I'd like to 'fill in the holes' as it were.
How should I model such a character in Dramatica to do that?
For example, a young chinese girl discovers that her family has sold her to a local lord in order to pay their debts. She becomes the lord's property, and endures the words and deeds of the young lord because it is her duty to her family. In the end, she is steadfast in her duty, but there is no resolution of gaining freedom, she is simply stronger.
Or a young asian man learns that he is conscripted into the local warlord's army, and though he lacks experience, fights (and dies bravely). His family receives a medal commemorating his bravery and service, and thus family honor is maintained.
Or a teenage girl entering adulthood learns that she is legally declared a slave once the government learns a secret about her father. She is taken to a farm, made to farm it for her owners, and has no rights. She accepts her place because she has no power or rights and enjoys farming. In the ending, she thinks "I am a good farmer, after all."
None of these are active main characters or active arcs for main characters.
Yes, I know that many of these will be a MC throughline of Situation, a Steadfast character, etc.
But the characters are not actively trying to solve their problem(s), they are simply trying to survive and stay true (where possible) to themselves or uphold their honor.
But in various translated stories I've read of the Eastern variety, it's often the reverse. The MC is passive, the victim of his/her environment or the villain. We follow the story of the MC to understand what they are going through and why, and the character arc is usually being steadfast in their honor, but no great change like in western stories. Also, resolution and conflict is not needed in the way in western stories do.
All that being said, as a personal exercise, there's a few such stories that I'd like to 'fill in the holes' as it were.
How should I model such a character in Dramatica to do that?
For example, a young chinese girl discovers that her family has sold her to a local lord in order to pay their debts. She becomes the lord's property, and endures the words and deeds of the young lord because it is her duty to her family. In the end, she is steadfast in her duty, but there is no resolution of gaining freedom, she is simply stronger.
Or a young asian man learns that he is conscripted into the local warlord's army, and though he lacks experience, fights (and dies bravely). His family receives a medal commemorating his bravery and service, and thus family honor is maintained.
Or a teenage girl entering adulthood learns that she is legally declared a slave once the government learns a secret about her father. She is taken to a farm, made to farm it for her owners, and has no rights. She accepts her place because she has no power or rights and enjoys farming. In the ending, she thinks "I am a good farmer, after all."
None of these are active main characters or active arcs for main characters.
Yes, I know that many of these will be a MC throughline of Situation, a Steadfast character, etc.
But the characters are not actively trying to solve their problem(s), they are simply trying to survive and stay true (where possible) to themselves or uphold their honor.