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Changing One's Nature vs. Change

Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:25 am
by zeitenflug
Hi there, what exactly is the difference between Changing One's Nature as a signpost and a MC resolve of change? Let's say I have a storyform that includes a MC resolve of Change. This means, the IC remains steadfast (i.e. his influence is "successful" and the MC changes because of that)... However, if the IC has a signpost of "Changing One's Nature" - what then? Have you examples of how an IC remains steadfast but displays a "Change of his Nature" at the same time?

Re: Changing One's Nature vs. Change

Posted: Aug 16, 2012 9:25 am
by Chris Huntley
The Main Character Resolve of Change means that the character has fundamentally shifted the way he addresses the personal issue at the heart of his concerns within the context of a specific story, such as going from actively disbelieving something to having faith.

The structural Type (second level from the top in the Dramatica structural model) of Changing One's Nature explores the process of transformation. To fully understand its use as a Signpost, one must consider the throughline in which the signpost appears.

As part of the Main Character throughline, it could be the MC considering what it means to change his nature -- what might be required, what are the costs, benefits, impediments, etc.

As part of the Overall Story throughline, it could be that the objective characters' consider the process of changing their natures (or resisting the change), and/or comment on the benefits or deficits of changing one's nature in the context of the "big picture" in the story.

Re: Changing One's Nature vs. Change

Posted: Aug 17, 2012 11:34 pm
by zeitenflug
Considering the vampires (see earlier post): MC resolve of change: He believes that the transformation process can be stopped by science; however since he fails, he changes his stance on that. The IC's Changing Nature signpost: He virtually changes his nature (becomes stronger, more fierce, more vampire-like).

Re: Changing One's Nature vs. Change

Posted: Aug 20, 2012 9:57 am
by Chris Huntley
That works fine.

Side Note: Though you can describe causality between the effort in the Overall Story throughline to achieve the Story Goal as failure and that the MC's change is a direct result of that (or vice versa), understand that the causality does not a structural condition but a synthesis of the story points in your illustrations. The reason I mention this is that you can have ANY combination of dynamic choices (e.g. Success and Change as well as Failure and Steadfast), so one dynamic choice does not limit or imply other dynamic choices.