The Story of Plots and The Story of Plots and GenresGenres

Pulp FictionPulp Fiction, , The MummyThe Mummy, and , and Galaxy QuestGalaxy Quest

PlotPlot

In In Understanding MoviesUnderstanding Movies, Giannetti , Giannetti mentions that there are many ways mentions that there are many ways to structure plots, but that American to structure plots, but that American films most often follow the ‘classical films most often follow the ‘classical paradigm.’paradigm.’

A classical story pits a protagonist A classical story pits a protagonist against an antagonist in a linear against an antagonist in a linear (usually chronological) plotline of (usually chronological) plotline of increasing dramatic tension.increasing dramatic tension.

Plot StructuresPlot Structures

Classical

Classical

Classical

In In Element of FictionElement of Fiction Robert Scholes Robert Scholes describes three general modes that describes three general modes that fiction may follow: Comedy, Tragedy, fiction may follow: Comedy, Tragedy, and Quest. and Quest. – Comedies end positively for the charactersComedies end positively for the characters– Tragedies end negativelyTragedies end negatively– Quests involve a character or characters Quests involve a character or characters

going on a journey, usually having going on a journey, usually having acquired a mission to find something and acquired a mission to find something and bring it back.bring it back.

The quest idea is connected with the ideaThe quest idea is connected with the ideaof a hero and has several characteristics:of a hero and has several characteristics:

1. The protagonist or hero receives a summons of sorts or a goal that 1. The protagonist or hero receives a summons of sorts or a goal that must be achieved. If the hero rejects the summons, usually bad must be achieved. If the hero rejects the summons, usually bad things happen and these are often symbolized by images of desert or things happen and these are often symbolized by images of desert or wasteland. If he accepts the quest, he knows that he is not assured wasteland. If he accepts the quest, he knows that he is not assured success.success.

2. When the hero begins his quest, a journey will be involved. This 2. When the hero begins his quest, a journey will be involved. This can be an actual physical journey or merely a mental or internal can be an actual physical journey or merely a mental or internal journey. The journey will always be into the unknown. Sometimes journey. The journey will always be into the unknown. Sometimes this is considered “the Other” and can be merely the “dark side” of this is considered “the Other” and can be merely the “dark side” of the hero’s own nature. When the unknown involves the self, once the hero’s own nature. When the unknown involves the self, once the hero recognizes his dark side or flaws or unconscious the hero recognizes his dark side or flaws or unconscious motivations, balance is restored, “health” is regained. For some motivations, balance is restored, “health” is regained. For some literature, this may be the only goal of the quest. For early British literature, this may be the only goal of the quest. For early British literature, the goal usually applies to a society as well as to the hero. literature, the goal usually applies to a society as well as to the hero.

3. On the journey, the hero will be tested. Tests can be riddles, 3. On the journey, the hero will be tested. Tests can be riddles, physical tests of strength, or moral tests or combinations. The idea physical tests of strength, or moral tests or combinations. The idea that the hero gains self-knowledge occurs in most representations of that the hero gains self-knowledge occurs in most representations of the quest, but this aspect is emphasized more in some presentations the quest, but this aspect is emphasized more in some presentations than others.than others.

The data from the last two pages comes from The data from the last two pages comes from http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/english/brady/211.Quest%20characteristics.htmhttp://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/english/brady/211.Quest%20characteristics.htm

4. The structure of the literature involving a quest is usually4. The structure of the literature involving a quest is usually episodicepisodic. The events of the plot are controlled by the events in . The events of the plot are controlled by the events in the journey. The hero encounters many adventures and some are the journey. The hero encounters many adventures and some are unrelated to the main plot except that they impede action of the unrelated to the main plot except that they impede action of the main plot. Sometimes they are tests of character, values, spirit, main plot. Sometimes they are tests of character, values, spirit, and honor as well as determination. and honor as well as determination.

5. The hero usually is given or has help through the journey. This 5. The hero usually is given or has help through the journey. This can be a helper, a mentor, or some person met on the journey. can be a helper, a mentor, or some person met on the journey. The point is that the help must be accepted by the hero. The point is that the help must be accepted by the hero.

6. Usually, there is a descent scene that represents a type of 6. Usually, there is a descent scene that represents a type of death and rebirth. Maybe the death is only of one set of ideas or death and rebirth. Maybe the death is only of one set of ideas or values for another, but this is a significant part of any quest. values for another, but this is a significant part of any quest.

The quest has three major stages: 1. separation 2. initiation 3. The quest has three major stages: 1. separation 2. initiation 3. return. The hero will somehow be changed as a result of the return. The hero will somehow be changed as a result of the quest. Another word for change is “transfiguration” and before quest. Another word for change is “transfiguration” and before this can occur, the hero must experience a type of death and this can occur, the hero must experience a type of death and rebirth. rebirth.

Galaxy QuestGalaxy Quest Galaxy QuestGalaxy Quest follows a classical plot follows a classical plot

structure that also uses the elements of a structure that also uses the elements of a quest narrative. quest narrative. – In it, a hero must face a challenge, upon which In it, a hero must face a challenge, upon which

hinges the survival of a culture, and overcome hinges the survival of a culture, and overcome obstacles (including himself) to find or learn of obstacles (including himself) to find or learn of that thing which can save his people.that thing which can save his people.

– The Omega-13 is a device with unknown powers The Omega-13 is a device with unknown powers that Sarris desires and which the other characers that Sarris desires and which the other characers need to keep from him.need to keep from him. Notice that each character of Notice that each character of Galaxy Quest Galaxy Quest must learn must learn

or do something in order for their whole mission to be or do something in order for their whole mission to be successful. The script casts them all as heroes (or successful. The script casts them all as heroes (or heroines).heroines).

Galaxy QuestGalaxy Quest

The film also plays with the ideas of The film also plays with the ideas of fiction and reality, actually fiction and reality, actually privileging those who suspend their privileging those who suspend their disbelief and go with the fantasy (or disbelief and go with the fantasy (or reality) of their situations. reality) of their situations.

Notice that the characters who most Notice that the characters who most accept their fictional/real roles in the accept their fictional/real roles in the reality of their situation—almost like reality of their situation—almost like having faith in the fantasy—become having faith in the fantasy—become successful. successful.

The MummyThe Mummy

The MummyThe Mummy follows the classical paradigm follows the classical paradigm with a linear, chronological plotline, and, with a linear, chronological plotline, and, like each main character in like each main character in Galaxy QuestGalaxy Quest, , each main character in this film has his or each main character in this film has his or her own idea of treasure.her own idea of treasure.

TheThe MummyMummy’s twist is that in addition to ’s twist is that in addition to the traditional quest format, it also follows the traditional quest format, it also follows the ‘classic” role-playing game formula, as the ‘classic” role-playing game formula, as well, which makes for a vastly entertaining well, which makes for a vastly entertaining action-adventure film.action-adventure film.

A Film MasterA Film Master Stephen Sommers is more than an auteur, he’s Stephen Sommers is more than an auteur, he’s

a top-class Dungeon Master.a top-class Dungeon Master.– The characters follow the classic The characters follow the classic Dungeons & Dungeons &

DragonsDragons character types—or archetypes. character types—or archetypes.– Each character has an alignment, a history, and a Each character has an alignment, a history, and a

set of skill specializations and they gain (or lose) set of skill specializations and they gain (or lose) experience based upon the success or failure of experience based upon the success or failure of their actions. their actions.

– The Book of the Dead andThe Book of the Dead andThe Book of Amun-RaThe Book of Amun-Raare valuable magical itemsare valuable magical itemsfor which the characters search. for which the characters search.

In D&D characters can be wizards, clerics, fighters, or thieves.

Pulp FictionPulp Fiction

As As Pulp FictionPulp Fiction does not present its scenes does not present its scenes in the order they occur, we cannot readily in the order they occur, we cannot readily understand the story’s timeline or the understand the story’s timeline or the characters’ relationships to one another. characters’ relationships to one another. Each scene presents its own story with its Each scene presents its own story with its own complications; however, they all come own complications; however, they all come together to teach viewers important lessons.together to teach viewers important lessons.

While it includes many aspects of the Mafia While it includes many aspects of the Mafia movie genre, it also has some revisioned movie genre, it also has some revisioned quest narrative components. quest narrative components.

Each main character star in his or her Each main character star in his or her own vignettes where there are times own vignettes where there are times when he or she is tested, must when he or she is tested, must overcome obstacles, and emerge overcome obstacles, and emerge from conflict either victoriously or from conflict either victoriously or otherwise. otherwise.

A key item emerges with a near A key item emerges with a near supernatural importance: the supernatural importance: the contents of the briefcase.contents of the briefcase.