Whiplash Analysis

[brendon_oloughlin]

Hey Mike!

@mlucas

So, the chocolate things in the popcorn, to me that was a total manipulation conflict. The dad seems to want him to keep being the same son he was, watching movies together the same way, and the son plays along even though he doesn’t want the chocolate things (playing a role). When he tells him he’s going to “eat around them” the dad is super-upset, he basically says “I don’t understand [the way] you [think]!” But then later he stocks the son’s apartment with them, even though he already knows he doesn’t like them. Total manipulation – you gotta keep being the son I want you to be, that sort of thing.

To be honest, I didn’t read the opening cinema scene like that. I thought it odd that Andrew put the chocolate raisins in the popcorn to eat around them in the same way that his father did. But I didn’t read it that the dad was super-upset - just that he didn’t “get” his son. I thought there was more conflict in the “When you get to my age, you get perspective” vs “I don’t want perspective”.

When the dad comes around the house, he proudly mentions that he “loaded the pantry up with gushers”. I may have missed this coming from Oz/UK. But are gushers the same as chocolate raisins?

@mlucas

Total manipulation – you gotta keep being the son I want you to be, that sort of thing.

Hmmm. I didn’t get that from this scene. I was just about to write that “I really don’t get manipulation from the dad much at all, rather I read it as a concerned parent wanting to protect his son” but upon reflection, he does this by trying to change the way Andrew thinks about Terrence.

Neimann - “He didn’t do anything”
Dad - “What’s wrong with you? It’s over! He’s out of your life! Why would you let him get away with it”

Definitely food for thought.

@mlucas

For the IC throughline, the IC’s influence can impact characters other than the MC. I like to think of this as the “bull in the china shop” IC – there’s one particular item in the china shop that needs shaking up (the MC), but the author doesn’t mind sending a bull in there to do the job, which does plenty of collateral damage.

Okay - this is fascinating. I don’t think I have ever thought of an IC acting this way. Rather than changing the MC alone - changing all including the MC. Any other films you know of that has this approach by the IC?

@mlucas

Regarding the idea of MC in Activity – I meant that only while watching the movie I thought he might be in Activity, but keep in mind trying to get the storyform before you’re finished watching is not a great idea, since the Storymind is a holistic thing. By the time it was done, RS in Activity made way more sense!

I think I might have to go back and rethink the film again and try on a few storyforms to try to get my head around these. My thoughts are quite muddled at the moment and I had better see what I can pin down.

[mlucas]

@brendon_oloughlin

Rather than changing the MC alone - changing all including the MC. Any other films you know of that has this approach by the IC?

Sorry I think I made it a bit unclear. I didn’t mean changing everyone, just causing conflict for everyone around them, driven by or in the area of the IC story points. I think many ICs are like this actually – especially when you look at their Signposts. Sometimes it’s hard to separate the conflict they cause from their OS role, but often there are clear indications of the IC throughline there.

• In Star Wars, Obi-Wan impacts Han Solo regarding his attitudes about the Force; Han reacts defensively: “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side”.
• In The Princess Bride (copied from analysis):
  • Westley impacts everyone’s present circumstances through his pursuit of the kidnappers and Buttercup.
  • Westley illustrates the value of Attempt as his impact in this area pays off in the story. Inigo and Fezzik seek him out and get Miracle Max to resurrect him because of the impact the amazing feats he attempted had on them

@brendon_oloughlin

are gushers the same as chocolate raisins

I thought the “gushers” were the “chocolate raisins”, or whatever it was. I might be remembering it wrong.