The Practical Value of Theory: Teaching Aristotle's "Poetics" to Screenwriters

This paper uses P. Ricoeur’s studies on the Poetics, and his notion of "refiguration" as developed in the work of Juan José García-Noblejas, under the scope of the Aristotelian doctrine. It suggests that the “first writing” of a screenplay focuses on the structure of the plot and the chara...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Carmen Sofía Brenes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad de Navarra 2011-01-01
Series:Communication & Society (Formerly Comunicación y Sociedad)
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.unav.edu/index.php/communication-and-society/article/view/36226
Description
Summary:This paper uses P. Ricoeur’s studies on the Poetics, and his notion of "refiguration" as developed in the work of Juan José García-Noblejas, under the scope of the Aristotelian doctrine. It suggests that the “first writing” of a screenplay focuses on the structure of the plot and the characters, dialogue and actions. The “re-writing” deals with these same elements; but above all, discovers the deep poetic structure that holds together the story. From that point on, the writer is able to return to the plot and refine it. This back and forth movement ends up in coherence and unity of the story, and so illuminates the writer’s personal exploration on the meaning of life.
ISSN:2386-7876