Given that a throughline is a perspective and not a person or character, and that the whole story is an analogy for a human mind, I’m wondering what the Quad Squad has to say regarding the following. Can the story itself express an element rather than using a character to do it?
I’m working through a Reappraisal scene as explored through Deduction, Acceptance, Nonacceptance, and Induction. In the scene, the mom/wife character hangs something on the wall, but it won’t hang straight. In her mind, this is unsettling. She adjusts it, but no matter her efforts, it’s always crooked. She connects this to her family’s future. She goes to deal with a family member and is left even more unsettled. As she leaves the room, she passes the decoration and notices that it’s hanging even worse. Because she has already mentally connected this to her family’s future, the audience should get the idea/the story will Induce that if things continue as is, it will probably go bad for the family. Is that a theoretically sound use of Induction, or no?
If you are rely upon that, just that, for the audience to interpret your intent, then there’s room for the audience to not correctly interpret. With regards to that, imho,no. But that’s not your initial question simply an example-an example which may or may not represent, illustrate, your question, whole or in part, but that’s ok, forget it-no harm no foul. With regards TO your question/topic, I say “No” because a “yes” wouldn’t hold water if the character category was swapped for a different character category. Capice? Ie: Make the role of Protagonist be your example. If doing so works, fine-yes. If doing so doesn’t work-no.
However, the requirements are based on this theory, Dramatica, the current time period as well as thought period, and the story classification (ie, it would work for ‘Art’ buuut even then, that takes the Dramatica definitions and requirements, to some extent, off the table-to fit certain criteria).
In other words, is a Snickers candy bar a meal? A college student may say “Yes!”. Ask the mother of a young child. She’ll say “no”. Well, “NO!”.
This is super interesting, sorry I didn’t respond earlier. My feeling is that if you’re able to get across the idea that the story is Induction-ing, the reader/audience will feel as if a character is Induction-ing too. But let’s look at your example…
Before we look at the Induction, can you explain what parts you see as Deduction, Acceptance, and Nonacceptance?