Name Your Element
There are several different elements to any story that is told, sometimes one can be done very well while the rest lay by the wayside and suffer. The big three are character, setting, and plot. However, two often overlooked and sometimes ignored elements are conflict and theme. Now, certain people are drawn to certain elements more often than others, dictating which books they love and which books they hate.
For example, I don't particularly like J.R.R. Tolkien's books because they have a heavy Setting element that just bores me to tears. Stop telling me about the hills and trees and landscape and just tell the story! In fact, I hit description of scenery and I end up skimming and missing important plot points. It can get bad.
Another good example would be the way the Harry Potter books translated to movies. The books are heavy on a lot of the elements, that's part of why they appeal to so many people. However, the first two movies were heavy on the plot element and the setting element, to the detriment of character and ultimately conflict. People who liked the books for the characters really didn't like the first two movies. The third and fourth movies had a strong setting theme as well and tried to "flesh" out the characters more in little ways to the detriment of the plot element and thus the conflict element as well. I feel the fifth film sort of succeeded at bringing out the character element more... again to the detriment of the plot element.
...And I'm not going to go into my feelings on the last two because I haven't seen them enough to make a wise judgement.
In novels, it's very easy to concentrate on any one element superbly because the only limit you have is how many pages a person is willing to read and the Harry Potter and Twilight series proved that people will read however much you give them so long as they like what's in those pages.
Movies... it's harder.
Movies have to fit a two hour time limit otherwise movie theaters get their knickers in a twist because they lose money. So, usually some element has to fall by the wayside to make room for the other elements, usually a movie will be strong in character or plot. If it's got a weak plot, it'll make up for it by being really storng on conflict. If a movie is weak on everything but setting and that setting happens to have loads of explosions... well, there's you're typical adrenaline-boost popcorn movie.
I'm pretty sure Theme suffers the most in movies though. After all, movies with a message usually don't go overly well with audiences unless the other elements are equally strong. Mess with the plot or characters in favor of Theme and you get something like Ferngully which makes next to no sense and even the message gets messed up along the way.
I'm more of a Character person myself. I like reading about interesting characters and writing about interesting characters. I also like a good plot if it's told in and interesting way. I'm not one for setting at all. Too many landscapes and I get bored to tears.
The thing about elements is, which ever one interests you, that's the way it is. You can't change which one you prefer just because your friends like this element or that element. If your friends like Setting movies and you like character-driven stories... that's just the way it is. Finding the novel that does both elements well? That's the magic of writing. That's the magic of fiction.
Really, in the end, though... it's up to you. So that's why, today I ask: What is your element?
For example, I don't particularly like J.R.R. Tolkien's books because they have a heavy Setting element that just bores me to tears. Stop telling me about the hills and trees and landscape and just tell the story! In fact, I hit description of scenery and I end up skimming and missing important plot points. It can get bad.
Another good example would be the way the Harry Potter books translated to movies. The books are heavy on a lot of the elements, that's part of why they appeal to so many people. However, the first two movies were heavy on the plot element and the setting element, to the detriment of character and ultimately conflict. People who liked the books for the characters really didn't like the first two movies. The third and fourth movies had a strong setting theme as well and tried to "flesh" out the characters more in little ways to the detriment of the plot element and thus the conflict element as well. I feel the fifth film sort of succeeded at bringing out the character element more... again to the detriment of the plot element.
...And I'm not going to go into my feelings on the last two because I haven't seen them enough to make a wise judgement.
In novels, it's very easy to concentrate on any one element superbly because the only limit you have is how many pages a person is willing to read and the Harry Potter and Twilight series proved that people will read however much you give them so long as they like what's in those pages.
Movies... it's harder.
Movies have to fit a two hour time limit otherwise movie theaters get their knickers in a twist because they lose money. So, usually some element has to fall by the wayside to make room for the other elements, usually a movie will be strong in character or plot. If it's got a weak plot, it'll make up for it by being really storng on conflict. If a movie is weak on everything but setting and that setting happens to have loads of explosions... well, there's you're typical adrenaline-boost popcorn movie.
I'm pretty sure Theme suffers the most in movies though. After all, movies with a message usually don't go overly well with audiences unless the other elements are equally strong. Mess with the plot or characters in favor of Theme and you get something like Ferngully which makes next to no sense and even the message gets messed up along the way.
I'm more of a Character person myself. I like reading about interesting characters and writing about interesting characters. I also like a good plot if it's told in and interesting way. I'm not one for setting at all. Too many landscapes and I get bored to tears.
The thing about elements is, which ever one interests you, that's the way it is. You can't change which one you prefer just because your friends like this element or that element. If your friends like Setting movies and you like character-driven stories... that's just the way it is. Finding the novel that does both elements well? That's the magic of writing. That's the magic of fiction.
Really, in the end, though... it's up to you. So that's why, today I ask: What is your element?
"He makes love to the landscape" lol.
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