Nothing new in this world...

[deathpixie]

There are only seven basic story plots.

[wo]man vs. nature
[wo]man vs. man
[wo]man vs. the environment
[wo]man vs. machines/technology
[wo]man vs. the supernatural
[wo]man vs. self
[wo]man vs. god/religion


Discuss.

Comments

[iamgerg.livejournal.com]

I don't know that it is conflict so much as imbalance. It is I think a case of one thing being larger or more overwhelming than oneself. Thus a sailor does not fight to overcome the sea, but rather the sailor faces the overwhelming strength of the sea.

[thatpalebluedot.livejournal.com]

Then can we have a story that is all about balance? :)

Of course, it occurs to me my very questioning is an example of reasons why we can't--I'm creating conflict. My first reaction in seeing this list was to thik--I wonder if that's true. What are stories where it WOULD NOT be true...

And then I have to wonder about stories without man as the focus--what about god vs. god, or nature vs. god? Genesis, before the creation of man?

Ah well, fascinating things to think about. :)

[iamgerg.livejournal.com]

No you can't have a story about balance, life is driven by imbalance. Why do people do anything? Either it's to get more of something they don't have enough of or to get rid of things they have too much of. A story in balance is one with no plot and I would be willing to bet that it would be impossible to write one that is in any way compelling.

[trishalynn.livejournal.com]

A story of god vs. god would actually still be man vs. man because the two gods would be thinking protagonist struggling against a thinking antagonist.