Reflection for Week 3

I never knew Aristotle was interesting. This lesson taught me about the structure of storytelling. My group did a short presentation about the differences between a complex and a simple plot. It wasn’t that detailed but we managed to learn a little more with Ryan’s additional information. In an industry like ours, knowing to tell a proper story is crucial in scriptwriting. Understanding Aristotle’s teachings is important.

We have to go out and people watch too. This is interesting. I people watch… Most of the male population would agree with me too. Hell… This is going to be fun.

Notes:

Tragedy = imitation of an action that is serious, complete, a certain magnitude

Six Parts = Plot, Character, Diction, Thought, Spectacle, Melody

Plot: arrangement of incidents

Character: used to enhance plot

Thought: able to convey director’s thoughts to audience

Diction: expression of the meaning of words

Melody: contributes to the unity of plot

Spectacle: visual elements

‘Cause and Effect’ Chain= incentive moment – climax – resolution

Good plot is the unity of action, structure is self contained and has no outside intervention. Therefore a plot is the most important feature of tragedy.

Episodic Plot: starts near the beginning
succeeds one another without necessity
stretches plot
serves to invoke fear or pity

Characters should serve the plot. To Aristotle, the protagonist must be morally fine but must have a flaw. The lack of knowledge in him is known as HARMARTIA.

However, when he finally wakes up. It is known as the moment of recognition, ANAGNORISIS.

Vocab:

Katharsis: emotional release
Mimesis: imitation of real world through art and literature
Anagnorisis: moment of recognition
Perepeteia: things in plot which changes from good to bad
Harmartia: doesn’t have self knowledge