Communicating Through
Symbols
by Melanie Anne Phillips & Chris Huntley
co-creators of the Dramatica Theory
How can essential concepts be communicated?
Certainly not in their pure, intuitive form directly from mind to mind. (Not
yet, anyway!) To communicate a concept, an author must symbolize it, either in
words, actions, juxtapositions, interactions — in some form or another. As
soon as the concept is symbolized, however, it becomes culturally specific and
therefore inaccessible to much of the rest of the world.
Even within a specific culture, the different experiences of each member of
an audience will lead to a slightly different interpretation of the complex
patterns represented by intricate symbols. On the other hand, it is the
acceptance of common symbols of communication that defines a culture.
For example, when we see a child fall and cry, we do not need to know what
language he speaks or what culture he comes from in order to understand what has
happened. If we observe the same event in a story, however, it may be that in
the author’s culture a child who succumbs to tears is held in low esteem. In
that case, then the emotions of sadness we may feel in our culture are not at
all what was intended by the author.
From the Dramatica
Theory Book
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$29.95
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About Dramatica and
StoryWeaver
What They Do
Dramatica is a tool to help you
build a perfect story structure. StoryWeaver is a tool to help you build
your story's world.
Dramatica focuses on the underlying logic of your
story, making sure there are no holes or inconsistencies.
StoryWeaver
focuses on the creative process, boosting your inspiration and guiding it to add
depth, detail and passion to your story.
How They Do It
Dramatica has the world's only
patented interactive Story Engine™ which cross-references your answers to
questions about your dramatic intent, then finds any weaknesses in your
structure and even suggests the best ways to strengthen them.
StoryWeaver uses a revolutionary new
creative format as you follow more than 200 Story Cards™ step by step through
the story development process. You'll design the people who'll inhabit
your story's world, what happens to them, and what it all means.
How They Work Alone
By itself Dramatica appeals to
structural writers who like to work out all the details of their stories
logically before they write a word.
By itself, StoryWeaver appeals to
intuitive writers who like to follow their Muse and develop their stories as
they go.
How They Work
Together
But, the finished work of a
structural writer can often lack passion, which is where StoryWeaver can help.
And the finished work of an intuitive writer can often lack direction, which is
where Dramatica can help.
So, while each kind of writer will
find one program or the other the most initially appealing, both kinds of
writers can benefit from both programs.
Try Either Program
Risk Free!
We have a 90
Day Return Policy here at Storymind. Try either or both of these
products and if you aren't completely satisfied we'll cheerfully refund your
purchase price.
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