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Oct. 7th, 2007
Frame me a story...
Oct. 7th, 2007 09:51 pmI watch "Criminal Minds". I want to like it because I totally love the characters in it. They are interesting, 3-dimensional, likable, yet flawed. They are great as a group, yet can be individuals, too. Their cases focus on the psychological aspects of serial criminals, and I totally love that stuff. There was a reason I studied psychology in school -- I even went the whole criminal psychologist route for a bit.
However, I find their actual stories often lack... something. Some of them are brilliant, sometimes I'm left feeling that the writers didn't have a point other than to write a story about a serial killer -- and that gets old the first time they do it. The stories lack an underlying theme. I'm not talking message, I'm talking about the underlying idea that the writer uses to frame the story.
Framing puts things in context. Photographers use framing in order to make sure that the picture portrays the subject in a way that accurately shows what the photographer sees. Framing, in writing, is the way you set up a story so that the reader/viewer knows why you are telling the story. Without framing, there is no point to a story, no matter how well plotted, acted or delivered. Without framing, a story lacks purpose and resonance.
Criminal Minds stories often lack resonance; they lack a "soul". This became clear when I watched an episode of Due South that had a story that had many of the same story elements and plot dynamics. But whereas the Criminal Minds episode was flat, the Due South episode packed one hell of a punch.
( Read on McDuff, for an example and explanation )
Looking back on the stories that have really touched you, the ones that have really stuck with you over time, I will bet that that story has a frame.
However, I find their actual stories often lack... something. Some of them are brilliant, sometimes I'm left feeling that the writers didn't have a point other than to write a story about a serial killer -- and that gets old the first time they do it. The stories lack an underlying theme. I'm not talking message, I'm talking about the underlying idea that the writer uses to frame the story.
Framing puts things in context. Photographers use framing in order to make sure that the picture portrays the subject in a way that accurately shows what the photographer sees. Framing, in writing, is the way you set up a story so that the reader/viewer knows why you are telling the story. Without framing, there is no point to a story, no matter how well plotted, acted or delivered. Without framing, a story lacks purpose and resonance.
Criminal Minds stories often lack resonance; they lack a "soul". This became clear when I watched an episode of Due South that had a story that had many of the same story elements and plot dynamics. But whereas the Criminal Minds episode was flat, the Due South episode packed one hell of a punch.
( Read on McDuff, for an example and explanation )
Looking back on the stories that have really touched you, the ones that have really stuck with you over time, I will bet that that story has a frame.
