Posted on July 19, 2012 with 8,889 notes.
Tagged with writing, .

The significance of plot without conflict

blackfoxx:

guerrillamamamedicine:

jhameia:

stilleatingoranges:

In the West, plot is commonly thought to revolve around conflict: a confrontation between two or more elements, in which one ultimately dominates the other. The standard three- and five-act plot structures—which permeate Western media—have conflict written into their very foundations. A “problem” appears near the end of the first act; and, in the second act, the conflict generated by this problem takes center stage. Conflict is used to create reader involvement even by many post-modern writers, whose work otherwise defies traditional structure.

The necessity of conflict is preached as a kind of dogma by contemporary writers’ workshops and Internet “guides” to writing. A plot without conflict is considered dull; some even go so far as to call it impossible. This has influenced not only fiction, but writing in general—arguably even philosophy. Yet, is there any truth to this belief? Does plot necessarily hinge on conflict? No. Such claims are a product of the West’s insularity. For countless centuries, Chinese and Japanese writers have used a plot structure that does not have conflict “built in”, so to speak. Rather, it relies on exposition and contrast to generate interest. This structure is known as kishōtenketsu.

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For all those assholes who think conflict is the only thing that gives shape to plot. Thanks for putting what I’d only been tenuously touching into words, stilleatingoranges!

oh!

that’s my natural writing style so this intrigues me lol. I had to train myself to create conflict.

Reblogged from: dusttracksonaroad
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  4. mslarkin-ipa reblogged this from stilleatingoranges and added:
    Really interesting discussion of different types of PLOTS. My IPA Ravens should stick with the classic Western idea,...
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    OH THIS IS SUPER COOL.
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  10. gamecrasher reblogged this from stilleatingoranges and added:
    so I saw this, and I thought it was interesting. worth repeating and showing around a bit. fun to think about, and...
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  13. curubethion reblogged this from stilleatingoranges and added:
    Read this, seriously! It’s an awesome explanation of an alternative story structure used in Japanese literature. Which...
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