Confused about the MC Problem Solving Style

questions
#21

Using the phrase “the kind of thinker” was following Mike_EME’s use in his question about Gandhi: Is Gandhi a Linear thinker? I can see all sorts of interpretations of the concept of being a Thinker, e.g. are you a serious thinker, a deep thinker, a flighty thinker, an emotional thinker, and logical thinker, etc.

Because the word “thinker” was used above in the context of MC Problem-solving style (Mental Sex), I wanted to clarify that it wasn’t so much as the kind of “thinker” the MC his but how, specifically, the MC processes problems, not as a preference but as a methodology core to their function in the [specific] story.

#22

Thanks. My own thinking had taken me somewhere else…

#23

Sorry if it’s inappropriate for me to post this question here, but I’m having a similar problem understanding problem solving style, especially in relation to The French Connection.

Using the filter set to the following settings…

MC RESOLVE: Steadfast
MC GROWTH: Stop
MC APPROACH: Do-er
MC PROBLEM-SOLVING STYLE: Linear

DRIVER: Action
LIMIT: Optionlock
OUTCOME: Success
JUDGMENT: Bad

Three films pop up, including The French Connection. While watching the film, I’m struck by how much Popeye Doyle seems more an intuitive cop than a linear one.

As a protagonist doing cop stuff, Doyle is linear by the very nature of the police investigation, gathering information and looking for connections that lead to a major drug bust. But as a main character, isn’t he someone who follows his intuition, jumping to conclusions about people and their intentions based on appearances – as he does in the first bar scene where he spots someone tossing too much money around?

A few scenes later, when he discovers the streets are dry, he learns a major shipment is on it’s way and then concludes that the person he’s tailing has something to do with the coming shipment, but no clear connection between those two things is, from my understanding, ever established.

Finally, isn’t it his holistic style that puts him at odds with his colleagues? Even one of the detectives comments, “Yeah, I know Popeye. His brilliant hunches cost the life of a good cop.”

EDIT: Ah, wait, my bad. I missed the character element of “Hunch” which represents Doyle’s M.O. Sorry for the noise.

So Doyle is looking for connections. If he can find the drugs and link them to the French Man, then he’ll have his case. Linear.

#24

Watching “My Cousin Vinny”, I discovered Joe Pesci’s character might be holistic, which makes for an interesting confrontation in the court room. Rather than argue to throw the case out of court, he reasons the defendants were two New Yorkers in the South. “There’s no way this is not going to trial.” When two hicks confront him with $200 they owe him, he catches them in the act by asking if it’s not just a $20 wrapped around several $1’s. He understands hicks to be deceitful. When explaining the main case has no merit, he uses the analogy of card playing. From one angle, it looks like all the cards have straight edges and are solid. Yet, turned around, the case is as thin as a card. I wonder if it follows his girlfriend is linear.

#25

When I did the analysis, I don’t remember making this choice. I related too much to what he was doing to think he was holistic. I can’t remember exactly how I came to this with examples, but I think it’s things like: he needs to find case law, so he reads the books; he needs to prove something about the car, so he goes to the crime scene; he needs a suit so he goes and gets a suit. I can’t recall how the details of her being holistic, but the bottom line is that it is not a requirement of Dramatica, but it is very common.

#26

Thanks. It would be interesting to see your storyform. This would be a great movie for DUG, btw. I thought of two more holistic examples. About halfway through, he visits the prosecutor and, rather than demand the files, he chats about how he got into law. Then, on the drive, he says he’d like to see the files. The prosecutor simply asks a secretary to fax them over. He male bonds with the prosecutor by hunting in order to get the files. In fact, when he comes home to his girlfriend, she immediately assumes he stole them. In the climax, his argument is that due to the high number of cars of that model and the popularity of the paint, it’s possible there could have been another car with two other guys. Her contribution as a witness seems more linear. She says the tire marks indicate a quirk about a particular car model, therefore they were made by that type of car.

#27

Hi Guys,

I was going to create a new topic as I’m in my second reading through the Dramatica book, and wanted to get more help on defining a Holistic MC. I found the ‘Grandfather/Choc’ example and LunarDynasty’s post really helpful.
May I ask here if anyone has any further examples from any recent movies in which a character has used a Holistic approach ? It would be really good to get a few more examples to study and get a 100% understanding…

#28

Look here on the Dramatica website. You can search through the films that have been analyzed via a filter (the link should take you to the films you’re looking for as examples).

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#29

Thanks Jim,

I caught this link earlier in the thread and it’s really useful in highlighting films with holistic characters. However, is there anywhere on the site which would highlight some of the scenes/actions/decisions which showcases their holistic style?

#30

If there is a podcast or videocast of any of the analysis that have holistic MC’s, you can listen/watch to hear the discussion and justifications for the MCs being holistic thinkers. I believe at least 16 of them fit the bill, such as Juno, Short Term 12, The Producers, Terms of Endearment,The Social Network, Brief Encounter, Ida, The Sound of Music, Blazing Saddles, My Fair Lady, A Face in the Crown, Just Like Heaven, and more…

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#31

Thanks Chris, since my last message I listened to The Social Network analysis and also the analysis for Crazy, Stupid, Love.

These have been so helpful, I did kinda underestimate how helpful these would be!

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