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I 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.
While these examples come from television shows (Criminal Minds and Due South) you don't have to be familiar with the shows or specific episodes to understand the point I'm trying to make.
Bare bones storyline of both plots: A father, in order to provide monetarily for his son, knowingly commits a crime. Because of this crime, the father, his family and innocents are put in danger. In order to keep the money earned from his illegal activity and to stop the “bad” guys from hurting more people, the father decides to kill the villains – by burning both the bad guys and himself.
This story sets up a lot of possible emotional content. The plot line if rife with tons of father/son issues, morality and ethical issues, personal responsibility issues… There were a lot of strong, complex issues available to frame the story with. A frame would take one of those issues and highlight it, thereby giving the show a theme and deeper resonance.
The Due South episode did this. It focused on the theme of what a father owes to his son – what is the most important gift a father can give his son. The reason for the robbery is constantly present. The father’s concern for his son is paramount in everything he does (is, in fact, the only reason for him committing the crime) and the son’s conflicting feelings for his father is evident through out the episode. This theme was reinforced by having the theme mirrored in the relationships between the two main characters and their fathers. At the end of the show, the father is stopped from following through on his plan (to kill himself and other) by understanding that a father's true legacy isn't money or possessions, it in his example on how he lives his life. The show ends with the son visiting his father in prison, talking about regrets, memories and possible future plans.
This show is perfectly framed. Every single scene and shot helps build the theme. Familial relationships are everywhere. It’s set around Christmas, a time traditionally about family. There are several scenes demonstrating the strong affects that fathers have on sons – both good and bad.
The Criminal Minds episode has no frame and it suffers from that. Unlike the Due South episode, the father’s motives for committing the crimes are less clear and the crime is more heinous – in DS the father helped rob a bank, in CM the father helped cover up the dumping of toxic waste that threatens hundreds. There is some effort to make the father sympathetic, unfortunately it comes off as manipulative and actually undermines both the sympathy factor and the impact of the father being willing to kill himself. The closest the show comes to mirroring the father/son relationship is one scene with one of the agents.
There is a nod to the theme in the serial killer plot line – the killer is killing successful business men and their families. However, it has nothing to do with father/son relationships and everything to do with hatred and jealousy. This added theme muddies the waters of what the show is about. This show ends with the father killing himself and the serial killer and leaving his son only a note and the money he earned from helping with the toxic dumping.
The CM episode was a reasonable tale. It had a plot and it told a story, however, it lacked true emotion. It didn’t leave the viewer with anything to hang on too or to think about.
Stories that last, stories that have the readers/viewers going back to over and over need to have a frame. They need to make statement even if that statement won’t be accepted by everyone. And having a frame doesn’t mean the story has to have a happy ending – Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet both have frames and extremely depressing endings. The CM episode could easily have ended with the death of the father and still provide the viewer with a frame in which to judge that death.
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.
While these examples come from television shows (Criminal Minds and Due South) you don't have to be familiar with the shows or specific episodes to understand the point I'm trying to make.
Bare bones storyline of both plots: A father, in order to provide monetarily for his son, knowingly commits a crime. Because of this crime, the father, his family and innocents are put in danger. In order to keep the money earned from his illegal activity and to stop the “bad” guys from hurting more people, the father decides to kill the villains – by burning both the bad guys and himself.
This story sets up a lot of possible emotional content. The plot line if rife with tons of father/son issues, morality and ethical issues, personal responsibility issues… There were a lot of strong, complex issues available to frame the story with. A frame would take one of those issues and highlight it, thereby giving the show a theme and deeper resonance.
The Due South episode did this. It focused on the theme of what a father owes to his son – what is the most important gift a father can give his son. The reason for the robbery is constantly present. The father’s concern for his son is paramount in everything he does (is, in fact, the only reason for him committing the crime) and the son’s conflicting feelings for his father is evident through out the episode. This theme was reinforced by having the theme mirrored in the relationships between the two main characters and their fathers. At the end of the show, the father is stopped from following through on his plan (to kill himself and other) by understanding that a father's true legacy isn't money or possessions, it in his example on how he lives his life. The show ends with the son visiting his father in prison, talking about regrets, memories and possible future plans.
This show is perfectly framed. Every single scene and shot helps build the theme. Familial relationships are everywhere. It’s set around Christmas, a time traditionally about family. There are several scenes demonstrating the strong affects that fathers have on sons – both good and bad.
The Criminal Minds episode has no frame and it suffers from that. Unlike the Due South episode, the father’s motives for committing the crimes are less clear and the crime is more heinous – in DS the father helped rob a bank, in CM the father helped cover up the dumping of toxic waste that threatens hundreds. There is some effort to make the father sympathetic, unfortunately it comes off as manipulative and actually undermines both the sympathy factor and the impact of the father being willing to kill himself. The closest the show comes to mirroring the father/son relationship is one scene with one of the agents.
There is a nod to the theme in the serial killer plot line – the killer is killing successful business men and their families. However, it has nothing to do with father/son relationships and everything to do with hatred and jealousy. This added theme muddies the waters of what the show is about. This show ends with the father killing himself and the serial killer and leaving his son only a note and the money he earned from helping with the toxic dumping.
The CM episode was a reasonable tale. It had a plot and it told a story, however, it lacked true emotion. It didn’t leave the viewer with anything to hang on too or to think about.
Stories that last, stories that have the readers/viewers going back to over and over need to have a frame. They need to make statement even if that statement won’t be accepted by everyone. And having a frame doesn’t mean the story has to have a happy ending – Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet both have frames and extremely depressing endings. The CM episode could easily have ended with the death of the father and still provide the viewer with a frame in which to judge that death.
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.
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no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 10:48 am (UTC)From:I watch CM, but I agree that often it's lacking. Not nearly as much as CSI:Miami, but it can lack.
NCIS had a nice bit where Tony's undercover work finally ends and he's his usual carefree self and then boom! turns all serious and it's very nicely done and really drives home how this assignment hit him emotionally.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-09 03:44 pm (UTC)From:And, I've stopped watching CSI:Miami even though I occasionally watch it in reruns (and it seems to be *everywhere*). It's not the over-dramatic nature of Horatio either (because I always liked that), but there is no balance for him anymore. In the earlier seasons it was just Horatio who was that way, not the whole show seems to be the same.
I have never watched NCIS, which is weird because I'm sure I would like it.