The logistic goal of external vs internal domains

theory
#1

I’m getting this impression after watching/listening to countless movie analysis:

  • In OS external domains (situation, activity) the MC has to solve an internal problem:
    • The Fugitive: Kimble (steadfast) has to solve how people see him (convicted felon instead of doctor)
    • Star Wars: A New Hope: Skywalker (change) has to stop seeing himself as a farmboy and become a soldier
    • The Bourne Identity: Bourne (steadfast) has to figure out who he is.
  • In OS internal domains (manipulation, fixed attitude) the MC has to solve an external problem:
    • A Separation: Nader (steadfast) forces the antagonist to give up his claim on the blood money.
    • The Sting: Hooker (change) helps the IC in the effort to force the antagonist to give up his revenge.
    • Rear Window: Jeff’s (change) efforts lead the IC to force the antagonist to expose himself as a murderer.

OS external domains seem to focus on the identity of the MC. When the MC solves his identity problem the antagonist is defeated.

OS internal domains seem to focus on changing the antagonist’s mind/position. When the antagonist changes his mind/exposes his position the MC wins.

My question is: Are these seemingly shared high level story arcs proxies for the underlying story form?

I’ve come to the conclusion that if you answer these two questions about the objective story you’re able to determine whether the Objective Throughline is External or Internal:

  • Is the MC struggling with an identity crisis? Yes: OS external domain
  • Do the MC and IC try to convince the antagonist to give up on something? Yes: OS internal domain
1 Like
#2

Well, the way the theory works is that the OS domain is opposite the RS domain, and the MC domain is opposite the IC domain. So, if the OS domain is Activity (dynamic external), then the RS domain is Fixed Attitudes (static internal). If the MC is in a Situation (static external), then the IC is seen through Manipulation (dynamic internal).

You can have both the OS and MC domains be external. The Main Character may have to get out of his Situation to bring the OS Activity to its conclusion, for example.

#3

You’ve reached a good, frustrating point in your analyses. It’s good because it’s progress. It’s frustrating because it’s going to require you to dig in and figure some stuff out.

Watch Star Wars again. Does Luke see himself as a farmboy?
Watch The Fugitive again, and then ask – is one’s reputation is internal if it’s determined by how others think about you?
Watch The Bourne Identity and see if figure out who he is accurately captures what Bourne is going through, especially after he finds his Paris apartment.

#4

You are right and wrong here. Go look at the Theme Browser again.