Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

[Farnsworth]

Although the "Plot vs. Theme" thread has been closed, I wonder why the issue of Theme draws so much interest? On other forums, the question or issue of Theme draws great interest. Why? Any thoughts?

[Joe Unidos]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

Honestly, I think it's because theme is the only element of a screenplay that can be completely missing from a script and still have that script considered by its writer (or others) to be done. It's also the only element that can simply be happened upon, and it can be completely open to the interpretation of the reader.

[Joaneasley]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

Also because there are people who don't get it, feel they don't need to pay any attention to it, or feel it's a crock, and because there are other people who feel it's their secret weapon and you're missing something if you don't use it. Kind of like a discussion between the religious and atheists/agnostics. Or between people who do and don't outline. Both sides are invested in their POV.

[amandag]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

I first heard of theme when I was a pug-faced child, scooping man-sized piles of horse-droppings into blacksmith fires before I walked my typical 87-miles to school. That's how the working folks got 'high' in those days--sniffing the stench of animal waste. It got em so high, that my father, the blacksmith, never realized that by the time I walked the 87 miles to school, school was long over.

He said, "it 'themes' to me, child, that you've no direction." You see, he'd finally tracked my route through the snow and found that the 87 miles were walked not in a straight line, but in a growing outward spiral from my starting point, spinning around and around until my path widened far enough to open the school doors. I got more exercise than my nobby legs could ever need, but not an ounce of common sense feed my bird-sized brain.

That night, after realizing that the fumes were limiting my learning, my father turned out the blacksmith fire for good. To him, his child's education was far more important than his morning huff. The next day, I walked to school in an unfettered and elated outward spiral, this time covering a 95 mile spread before reaching the paddlocked school gates. I sat down in the snow with a satisfied sigh, watching the glittering stars above me. "It 'themes' to me," I thought, "my dad really lovthes me."

[Gillyflower Cooms]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

It's subjective in alot of ways that story isn't...so you can argue endlessly about it.

[magicman35]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

Back in the middle ages when I was in film school I can remember my then screenwriting prof (a very successful A-lister) compliment me at length on my script. "So well written, so brilliantly structured," yada yada. Then he hit me with the sucker punch. "But what's it ABOUT?"

It took me a number of years to really understand what he was getting at.

A lot of screenwriting gurus don't help because they reduce theme down to some easily digestible little homily.

The discussion also gets confusing because story can either reveal theme or vice-versa.

(BTW the other thread was terrific because we really got into Jeff's creative process which, as he pointed out more eloquently than I, had a number of overlapping starting points and was far from linear)

Here's where I am now with regard to theme. I just finished a novel, and I really didn't have a clue as to the theme until the end of the first draft. But the theme elevated it from a very well written and crafted thriller to something with the capacity to completely transform my career. It also changed my world-view with regard to a number of issues that I hadn't really taken the time to reflect on that deeply before.

So, theme? If someone doesn't get it, there ain't a lot of point trying to explain why it's so important.

[twk69045]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

Let's not forget the discussion was started by wilson and when wilsoneads is slapped on a thread, people come out of the woodwork. High school girls take their modern day bedazzled cell phones to flock here and post messages. The president puts down files on Iraq skirmishes to post. Homeless people pull out their well hidden laptops and flock to Starbucks for the free wifi. Hell, even amanda pulls her head away from chasing the dragon with animal waste. That's the power wilson's threads have. Can't be helped.

[sc111]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

Let's not forget the discussion was started by wilson and when wilsoneads is slapped on a thread, people come out of the woodwork. High school girls take their modern day bedazzled cell phones to flock here and post messages. The president puts down files on Iraq skirmishes to post. Homeless people pull out their well hidden laptops and flock to Starbucks for the free wifi. Hell, even amanda pulls her head away from chasing the dragon with animal waste. That's the power wilson's threads have. Can't be helped.

This made me smile - you know how to evoke images.

[Biohazard]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

Theme gives story a purpose.

[jkk808]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

Let's not forget the discussion was started by wilson and when wilsoneads is slapped on a thread, people come out of the woodwork. High school girls take their modern day bedazzled cell phones to flock here and post messages. The president puts down files on Iraq skirmishes to post. Homeless people pull out their well hidden laptops and flock to Starbucks for the free wifi. Hell, even amanda pulls her head away from chasing the dragon with animal waste. That's the power wilson's threads have. Can't be helped.

Too much black.

[THEUGLYDUCKLING]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

"For anyone who wants to look beneath its action surface, The Dark Knight proves that a movie can be a huge hit because of theme, not in spite of it. The Dark Knight is the closest thing to a fictional exploration of moral philosophy to come out of Hollywood in a long time, and that includes No Country for Old Men. Amazingly, writers Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, and David Goyer create this complex moral expression on the foundation of superhero action crime genre." truby

here's an example of what theme means to a writer and movie goer.

[TwoBrad Bradley]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

Theme gives story a purpose.

Theme gives the screenwriter a purpose.

[roscoegino]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

It's subjective in alot of ways that story isn't...so you can argue endlessly about it.

Agreed. The more subjective the screenplay element, the easier it is to argue its purpose. That's why WE SEE threads are so dang long, and why twenty people in a room can argue which line of dialogue is funniest when the elephant in the corner is the mediocre story.

[TwoBrad Bradley]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

You simply CAN'T write a story without a theme--no matter how hard you try.

There's the problem.

It's not about stories with a theme verses stories without theme.

It's about the characters "living" the theme - demonstrating the theme through the way they change - verses stories where none of the characters change.

[amandag]

Re: Why does the issue of Theme draw so much interest?

Hell, even amanda pulls her head away from chasing the dragon with animal waste.

Seriously. That never happens.

Never.