3 ms·

Narratives are driven by 1) a question that 2) the reader cares about. - How is Ender going to save earth in space army academy? (Ender's Game) - Who killed M

Narratives are driven by 1) a question that 2) the reader cares about. - How is Ender going to save earth in space army academy? (Ender's Game) - Who killed Mr Ratchett? [EDIT: or rather How will Poirot figure out who killed Mr Ratchett?] (Murder on the Orient Express) - How was Rome formed in the early days? (History of Rome, Livy) - What's going to happen to Seth Brundle? (The Fly) - How did Warren Buffett become who he is today? (Snowball) - Are Mr Knightly and Emma going to hook up? (Emma) - Who is Ted Mosby going to marry? (How I met your mother) Conflict can be the basis of the question, 'Who will win the fight'. Kishōtenketsu can be the basis of the question, 'Who are these people and how are they related?'. I don't agree that 'in the West, plot is commonly thought to revolve around conflict' because many plots do not have the outcome of a conflict as the main question.

norswap 9y ago
I'm pretty sure everyone that watched "How I Met Your Mother" were doing so for the jokes, not the plot. It wasn't even really a narrative at all, more like a smattering of teasers. But you're right, not all plots are about conflict. Plots about conflict, and especially inner conflict, tend to be fascinating if done right though.
- riazrizvi 9y ago
  Yes I agree that watchers/readers are not always focused on the main question. In any moment you feel drawn in to a story you might be drawn along by a secondary or tertiary question. Storytellers weave them together into a tapestry of compelling viewing/reading. Think of a single joke you might hear in a show, 'Why did the chicken cross the road?', we immediately think, 'How is he going to try to make this old joke funny now?'. Once a story loses its questions for you, you lose interest in the story.
- bmm6o 9y ago
  It's true that the journey is often more important than the destination. You don't really watch HIMYM to find out how Ted met his wife (at least up until the last season). On the other hand, each episode needs to have some kind of plot to work as a narrative structure.

norswap 9y ago

I'm pretty sure everyone that watched "How I Met Your Mother" were doing so for the jokes, not the plot. It wasn't even really a narrative at all, more like a smattering of teasers. But you're right, not all plots are about conflict. Plots about conflict, and especially inner conflict, tend to be fascinating if done right though.

riazrizvi 9y ago
Yes I agree that watchers/readers are not always focused on the main question. In any moment you feel drawn in to a story you might be drawn along by a secondary or tertiary question. Storytellers weave them together into a tapestry of compelling viewing/reading. Think of a single joke you might hear in a show, 'Why did the chicken cross the road?', we immediately think, 'How is he going to try to make this old joke funny now?'. Once a story loses its questions for you, you lose interest in the story.
bmm6o 9y ago
It's true that the journey is often more important than the destination. You don't really watch HIMYM to find out how Ted met his wife (at least up until the last season). On the other hand, each episode needs to have some kind of plot to work as a narrative structure.