Main Character is the Contagonist

Discuss the practical use of Dramatica. Have questions about how throughlines should be used, how to create Complex Characters or even the various combinations of the 12 Essential Questions and how they will affect your story go here.
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adambein
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Main Character is the Contagonist

Postby adambein » Nov 08, 2015 12:54 pm

1. If the definition of 'Contagonist' includes 'gets in the way of the Protagonist', then my Main Character is the/a Contagonist. That's legal to do, right?
2. If so, then my whole story doesn't spotlight the Protagonist, my whole story puts the Contagonist (and the Contagonist's crew/team) in the spotlight. That too's legal to do, right?
3. What are examples of stories in which this is utilized? Detective/Crime?

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Chris Huntley
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Re: Main Character is the Contagonist

Postby Chris Huntley » Nov 09, 2015 10:18 am

1. Yes

2. Maybe. The protagonist is the main proponent of reaching the goal through "consider" (e.g. "keep your eyes on the prize") and pursue (e.g. "let's go after it"). I'm not sure what you mean by putting your Contagonist/MC "in the spotlight." As MC, the player will have a lot of the audience's attention. As contagonist, that player tempts (or is tempted) and hinders (or is hindered) the efforts to achieve the story goal. You may want to "spotlight" this player in his Overall story functions, or you may not. That is your choice. In either case, the protagonist still does his thing. Alternatively, you can move away from character archetypes and create complex characters, which allows you to make interesting character element combinations that tells audiences that the players are more complicated than typical archetypes.

3. None come to mind at the moment but I'll add them here if I think of any.
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adambein
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Main Character is the Contagonist

Postby adambein » Nov 09, 2015 2:13 pm

Spotlight as in...the side of the story that's getting the attn most of the time. Kinda like...a story in which there's a cat & a mouse. While the story could have either as the Protagonist, the attn/focus could be on the other animal.

1. So the Protagonist slot MUST be filled by the character who's efforts support that of the story goal-not his goal?
(That makes sense-seeing how it is a story that is being written (being supported by characters), not vice-versa.).
2. The story goal must be what is defined/clarified first? Ahead of eeeverything else? Is this the rationale? Because it is from ea. character's approach to the story goal that defines the position of each character?

http://storymind.com/blog/developing-your-storys-goal/

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Re: Main Character is the Contagonist

Postby Chris Huntley » Nov 18, 2015 10:33 am

1. The functions of the protagonist should be filled by one or more players. Each function is an approach to resolving the OS problem, which is shown to be appropriate on inappropriate within the context of the story.

2. It depends on what you mean by defining the story goal "first." If you're talking about the storyform, then that is not as much an issue because all aspects of the storyform are part of the grand argument story structure. However, if by "first" you mean it must be introduced into the storyweaving (presentation) of the story to the audience, then I would say no, it needn't be introduced first but you, as author, should understand what it is even if you choose to withhold its introduction into the narrative until later in the relating of the story.
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Re: Main Character is the Contagonist

Postby adambein » Nov 19, 2015 2:07 pm

Not presented first/prior to _______. Just...for the author/to the author. Must the goal be chosen first, because then ea. character's approach defines their position/role. Come to think of it, conversely, each approach must occur, and it is from filling each approach that one can assign each character.

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Re: Main Character is the Contagonist

Postby Chris Huntley » Nov 22, 2015 12:34 pm

That's a chicken / egg question. They are concurrent. How you come to choose them is up to you but does not effect their relationship.
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adambein
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Choosing the story's goal.

Postby adambein » Nov 27, 2015 4:59 pm

Ahhh. That helps. Thx!


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