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Dramatica
Dictionary
R
Range -- [Variation]
-- See Issue
Rationalization
-- [Variation] -- dyn.pr. Obligation<-->Rationalization
-- a logical alternative used to mask the real reason -- Rationalization
is the attempt to have your cake and eat it too. When a character expects
that catering to his desires will bring about some cost or punishment,
he tries to do what he'd like in a way he thinks will avoid retribution.
One way is to come up with an excuse. Rationalization involves fabricating
an artificial reason for one's attitude or actions that will excuse them.
The reason must make sense as being a possible actual cause of the character's
activities. In fact, it might very well have been the reason, except that
it wasn't, which is what makes it a Rationalization. -- syn. fabricated
excuse, ulterior explanation, false justification, artificial reason
Reach -- [Overview
Appreciation] -- the manner in which the audience identifies with
the Main Character -- The Reach of a story describes the relationship
between the audience and the Main Character. An audience might Empathize
with a Main Character in which case the audience identifies with the Main
Character and sees the story through his eyes. Alternatively, an audience
might Sympathize with the Main Character in which case it stands next
to the Main Character as if it were a close acquaintance. The story dynamics
that determine Empathy or Sympathy are different for men than for women.
Women tend to identify and Empathize with a Main Character of either sex
who is limited by a Optionlock. Men tend to only Empathize with male Main
Characters. Women tend to Sympathize with a Main Character of either sex
who is limited by a timelock. Men tend only to Sympathize with female
Main Characters. As a result of these dynamics, sometimes both women and
men will Empathize, sometimes women only, sometimes men only, sometimes
neither (both will Sympathize). It should be noted that these are tendencies
only. Training, experience, and personal choice in any individual audience
member can slip the balance wholly to the other side. Nevertheless, at
the subconscious level these tendencies will hold true.
Reaction -- [Element]
-- dyn.pr. Proaction<-->Reaction -- actions made in
response -- The Reaction characteristic leads a character to strike back
at the source of a problem. Reaction is less precipitous than Proaction
requiring the problem to materialize before it acts. It does not take
preemptive first strikes nor does it turn the other cheek. As a result,
it often waits too long to tackle a problem that could easily have been
prevented, then gets in a brawl that actually becomes a problem. Many
authors try to pit one Proactive character against another. This actually
diminishes the drama of the conflict as both characters are taking the
same approach. By making one character Proactive and another Reactive,
a much more real and powerful interaction is created. -- syn.
response, reply, acting from stimulus, goaded to action
Reappraisal --
[Variation] -- dyn.pr. Appraisal<-->Reappraisal
-- a reconsideration of a conclusion -- When one has made an initial appraisal
as to where preliminary evidence seems to be leading, there comes a time
when one must make a Reappraisal of the evidence to see if its direction
has changed. This tends to keep one on the right track. But characters,
like everyday people, are influenced by what has occurred most recently
-- "What have you done for me lately?" As a result, during Reappraisal
a character might discount the body of evidence in favor of that which
is most fresh in his mind. -- syn. reassess, rechecking, checking
up, re-examining a conclusion, reevaluating a conclusion
Reason -- [Archetype]
-- An Archetypal Character who represents the qualities of Logic
and Control -- The Reason Archetypal Character evaluates and acts solely
on the basis of calm logic, never becoming enraged, passionate or emotionally
involved in a decision. Although common in simple stories, the Reason
character is hard to empathize with. As a result, it is one of the characters
most often altered slightly from its archetypal arrangement to provide
more potential for empathy from the audience. A frequent choice is to
swap the trait of calm with the Emotional character's trait of uncontrolled.
The result is that both characters become more interesting, the Reason
character being both logical and frenetic, the Emotional character being
highly passionate yet in control.
Reception (a.k.a.
Story Reception) -- The process of tailoring the telling of
a story to a specific audience -- Every culture and sub-culture has its
own lingo, taboos, and givens. As a result, most stories do not play the
same for one kind of audience as for another. Story Reception seeks to
anticipate and take into account the nature of the target audience to
tailor the story so that it is received as intended. Although we all have
the capacity to feel the same emotions and make the same logistic connections,
our particular sub-culture may shy away from certain emotions, or brand
a particular kind of reasoning as inappropriate. Further, just because
we may empathize with the same emotions doesn't mean we all feel as deeply,
or if we see logical connections that we all grasp them as quickly. Especially
when writing for audiences such as children, it is important to consider
depth and speed as well as buzzwords and popular symbols. Often we can
take advantage of cultural symbols to express mountains of sense and oceans
of mood with a single story point. Other time we must develop an inordinate
amount of media real estate to get across the most simple experiences,
if they fall outside familiar cultural bounds for out audience. The important
point for an author is to determine the target audience and make sure
to be or become familiar enough with that audience to take cultural expectations
and taboos into account. For an enlightened audience, the task is to recognize
that other ingrained cultural imperatives exist, and to seek to appreciate
a story in the context in which it was created.
Reconsider -- [Element]
-- dyn.pr. Consider<-->Reconsider -- questioning a conclusion
based on additional information -- The Reconsideration characteristic
represents the drive to re-examine one's conclusions to see if they are
still valid. This leads to a pragmatic approach to one's own beliefs but
also undermines resolve with every new obstacle that crosses one's path.
-- syn. re-examining conclusions, rethinking, to mull over again,
further deliberation, additional scrutiny
Reduction -- [Element]
-- dyn.pr. Production<-->Reduction -- a process of thought
that determines probability -- Reduction is a process of thought that
compares the likelihood of several incomplete lines of deduction. Sometimes
there is not enough information to fully deduce the ultimate truth in
a matter. However, there is enough information to narrow the field of
possibilities. When all the possibilities are considered, each can be
rated on its individual merits as to how much each has. The potentialities
are compared, arriving at the most likely conclusion. This allows the
Reduction characteristic to act with a greater degree of confidence than
if no "favorite" theory or explanation had emerged. Of course,
dealing with incomplete data is a horse race where even the most unlikely
explanation may surge ahead when the last piece is in place and prove
to be the actual fact of the matter. It is when the Reduction characteristic
gives probability the weight of certainty or fails to reevaluate that
problems can arise. -- syn. determining probability, comparisons
of potentiality, measurement of likelihood, judging probabilities
Reevaluation --
[Element] -- dyn.pr. Evaluation<-->Reevaluation
-- a reappraisal of a situation or circumstances -- Reevaluation is the
act of reconsidering one's first impressions. This may be in regard to
a person, situation, goal, or even oneself. Reevaluation is a helpful
characteristic in dispelling incorrect initial assessments of the meaning
behind things, but is a real drawback when a person or situation conspires
to lure one's understanding away from an accurate Evaluation. Perhaps
a series of coincidences or a concerted effort can present information
that conflicts with an earlier Evaluation that was actually quite on the
mark. A character containing the Reevaluation characteristic can be swayed
by new misleading information and form new, mistaken understandings. --
syn. reappraisal, further assessment, subsequent analysis, scrutiny
of first impressions
Repulsion -- [Variation]
-- dyn.pr. Attraction<-->Repulsion -- pushing or being
pushed away from -- A character's path to his goal is blocked by many
curtains. The future beyond each cannot be seen until he has passed through
to the other side. Sometimes the curtain itself is attractive, encouraging
one to continue. Other times it is negative, indicating danger or loss,
or that something unsavory lies behind. This is the nature of Repulsion.
The warning is, "I'd go back if I were you" or "Don't spit
into the wind." But does the curtain truly represent something distasteful
that waits beyond or is it simply a false front, a mask to scare off the
less tenacious? -- syn. unattractive, repellent, foreboding, unsavory,
pushing away, forcing back
Requirements --
[Type] -- The necessary precursors to achieving the goal --
Achieving a goal is not a one-step activity. Rather, all the cogs and
wheels of a situation must be adjusted and realigned first in order to
enable the goal. That can entail taking a certain number of steps in sequence
and/or involve "tuning" the orchestra of the dramatics until
they support the harmony of the goal. Both the sequential and holistic
approach to these prerequisites and preconditions are described by the
nature of the overall requirement to achieving the goal. In other words,
the requirement describes the condition requisite to the goal and is made
up of prerequisites and preconditions.
Resistance -- [Dynamic
Term] -- One way to measure the relationship of items in a quad is
to classify them as Potential, Resistance, Current, and Outcome (or Power).
In this manner, we can see how dramatic components operate on each other
over the course of the story. Resistance simply means a tendency toward
inertia. When a dramatic Resistance exists it does not necessarily come
into play. Rather, until a Potential interacts with a Resistance, the
Resistance will have no impact at all. So in a quad, assigning one of
the items as the Resistance does not mean it will alter the course of
the story. Instead, it might function to deter the Potential item from
a certain course rather than risk conflict with Resistance. This is a
useful tool for Authors since it allows for the subtle relationship of
unused, inferred, threatened, or anticipated dramatic interactions that
shape the fabric of a story in ways other than conflict.
Resolve -- [Character
Dynamic] -- the degree to which the Main Character feels compelled
to remain on the quest -- There are two major ways in which an author
can illustrate the best way to solve the problem explored in a story.
One is to show the proper way of going about solving the problem, the
other is to show the wrong way to solve the problem. To illustrate the
proper way, your Main Character should hold on to his resolve and remain
steadfast because he truly is on the right path. To illustrate the improper
way of dealing with a problem, your Main Character must change for he
is going about it the wrong way.
Response (a.k.a
Direction) -- [Element] -- the apparent remedy for the principal
symptom of the story problem-- Characters do the best they can to deal
with the Overall Story Problem, but because the Overall Story Characters
of a story are all looking at the problem from their subjective point
of view, they can't get enough distance to actually see the problem right
away. Instead they focus on the effects of the problem, which is called
the Overall Story Symptom, and choose to follow what they feel will be
a remedy, which is called the Overall Story Response.
Response Element
(a.k.a. Direction Element or Perspective Element) -- A Main vs. Impact
Throughline Character can never be sure if what he believes to be the
source of the problem really is the source of the problem. Regardless,
based on his belief he will determine a potential solution or Direction
in which he hopes to find the solution. The dramatic unit that describes
what a Main vs. Impact Throughline Character holds as the path to a solution
is his Response Element.
Responsibility
-- [Variation] -- dyn.pr. Commitment<-->Responsibility
-- the belief that one is best suited to accomplish a task -- The instinct
for survival is paramount under normal circumstances. Still, even animals
throw themselves into danger to help a human friend. The drive that overcomes
self-interest is Responsibility. Responsibility exists when one cares
more for others than for oneself. The problem occurs when a character
believes he knows what is best for someone and that someone doesn't agree.
"It's for your own good," and "This is going to hurt me
more than you" are two expressions that exemplify this attitude.
Sometimes the character is right in believing he knows best, other times
not. But either way, Responsibility can cause problems when it is imposed
on another rather than offered to them. Responsibility can both be given
or taken. -- syn. assumed propriety, believed appropriateness,
self designated aptness, accepted suitability
Result -- [Element]
-- dyn.pr. Process<-->Result -- the ramifications of
a specific effect -- Result is a holistic view of all the end products
of a process. When a cause generates an effect, how does the effect upset
the overall balance of a situation? In a balance of power, one must consider
the results of arming an ally not just the immediate effect of strengthening
its military. The character possessing the Result characteristic considers
the ripples that might occur because of a given effect. The negative aspect
is that it often over-thinks the situation until its considerations are
ranging far beyond the scope of any real concerns. This can inhibit useful
actions for insignificant reasons. Stop a new factory that will create
jobs to protect a previously unknown species of gnat? It depends on the
scope of the concern. -- syn. ramifications of an effect, consequence,
repercussion, impact, end product
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