Hello, I have struggled for days with this issue and I wonder if anyone can help me.
In Dramatica theory, there is no formal written rule stating that IC and MC must occupy diagonally opposite squares in the Class quad, or that OS should be diagonally opposite from MC/IC.
However, in the software it does force a selection. Without answering any questions, if I go directly to Storyforming > Throughline Choices, and I choose Situation for Overall Story Throughline, then the next step, Main Character Throughline only offers two choices, Activity or Manipulation. I could not choose Fixed Attitude, because the software has automatically assigned Fixed Attitude to the M/I Througline.
Once the selection is done, the software even asks whether the througlines are correct and it states: Based on the OS througline, Dramatica determined the M/I throughline for you. Based on MC throughline, Dramatica determined the IC throughline for you.
It then says that if this does not seem to be ok, I can go back an experiment, but there is nothing to experiment with. I havenât answered a single question except selecting the OS and MC throughline classes.
So I am massively confused. Should MC - IC throughlines be diagonally opposed in the Class quad, and the same for OS - MC/IC ?
Thank you in advance for any help, this is driving me crazy!
I know @jhull could answer this one way better than I could. My limited personal experience so far has been that Narrova (formerly Narrato) has been far more flexible for working with those types of story forms than Subtxt (so far). However, Jim has been working actively in Subtxt to make updates to accommodate more flexibility in story forms. I think the Storyform Builder, if you know already what choices you want to make exactly, is a good place to start in Subtxt to build the exact storyform you want. Please correct me if Iâm wrong about this, Jim.
Yes, MC and IC are always diagonally opposed, as are OS and RS (aka MC/IC). I know there was some talk at one point theorizing the existence of different kinds of stories (perhaps non-Western) where this would not be the case. However, Iâve never seen a working story with that kind of storyform, and there are plenty of analyzed stories with Eastern roots that follow the standard Dramatica rules.
That said I think it can be fruitful to âstay looseâ when you are first developing your story, and be willing to change throughline Domains around. Itâs fine to temporarily consider arrangements that arenât technically valid, since itâs just temporary, and that may work well for your subconscious at that point vs. following strict rules. (I havenât personally experimented with Subtxt support for this, though.)
Thank you very much for your answers!! I was thinking it was not at all a good idea to consider other options. It is good to know that they are supposed to be diagonally opposed but that other versions could potentially exist.
The four throughlinesâOverall Story (OS), Main Character (MC), Influence Character (IC), and M/I (Relationship Story)âeach occupy a different âClassâ in the Dramatica Quad: Situation (Universe), Activity (Physics), Fixed Attitude (Mind), and Manipulation (Psychology) .
Diagonal Opposition:
The softwareâs enforcement of diagonal opposition is not an arbitrary restriction. Dramatica theory states that for the model to maintain structural integrity, each throughline must reside in a different domain/class, and their relationships are fixed such that:
MC and IC are always diagonally opposed.
OS and M/I are always diagonally opposed.
This configuration ensures a dynamic maximum contrast between perspectives, rooted in Dramaticaâs psychological model of story (see Dramatica Theory Book, Ch. 9: The Four Throughlines) .
No Formal âWritten Ruleâ in Early Materials:
While itâs true that the earliest public Dramatica materials do not explicitly spell this out as a ârule,â it is fundamental to the modelâs operation and has been stated repeatedly in all software, documentation, and advanced theory discussions .
Why the Software Forces This:
The software prevents illogical or narratively incoherent combinations that would break the functional symmetry of the Dramatica structure.
When you choose Situation (Universe) for OS, only Activity (Physics) or Manipulation (Psychology) are left for MC, with Fixed Attitude (Mind) being reserved for M/I by default, to maintain this structure.
Key Quotes:
âThe arrangement of throughlines is such that no two occupy the same domain, and the pairs are cross-linked diagonally to maximize audience empathy and narrative PSR (psychological story resonance).ââHuntley & Phillips, Various Seminars (summarized).
âIn the Dramatica model, the Main and Influence Characters are always in diagonal opposition; so are the Overall and Relationship Storylines. This is necessary for the dynamics to work fully.ââNarrative First, âThe Quad Structure of Throughlinesâ (2016).
Summary:
The MC and IC throughlines must be diagonally opposed in the Class quad, as must the OS and M/I. This is structural, not optional, and is enforced by the Dramatica software to preserve the integrity of the model and the psychological contrasts that drive complete stories .
To continue: âYou and I are both alike. No weâre nothing alikeâ, comes from this reality that one must external, must be internal, both must be either states (Universe or Mind), or processes (Physics or Psychology)
I looks out and sees You - that separation is along the external/internal axis.
@jhull Thank you so much for the very detailed explanation, I sincerely appreciate it. I am using Dramatica for a real scenario and I was wondering if this rule was always to be enforced. I see the goal now and this adds a lot of interest to the analysis. Thanks again!
