Monday, August 22, 2011
Who needs logic?
If you haven't seen the above video, enjoy. One of the reasons I love it is because it heavily lampoons the deux ex machina device JKR used in HP3. Now, many people think her writing really started to take off in that book and excelled in the subsequent chronicles. Me... I'm conflicted. Her plotting got a bit crazy at times (Horcruxes and Time Turners are huge, huge plot FUBARs for me), but her great characters and universal themes provide such extraordinary momentum that most overlook those sort of issues.
Likewise, in MOCKINGJAY, SC introduces a plot point midway through the book to create conflict between Gale and Katniss and propel the story forward. K,G, & alpha squad show up in District 2 for the final pre-cap battle. Uh-oh, the mountain's still resisting big time. Gale comes up with the idea to avalanche the mountain... now, I'm no general, but this is pretty much Military Tactics 101, and would have been implemented early on in the battle.
I enjoyed both series immensely and these sort of misconstructs (IMO) obviously don't derail the success train of these books. In part because the stories have so many other things going for them, and in part because these are more plot points than story points (where plot gets you from physical point A to point Z and story gets you from emotional point Normal to emotional point Somewhere Else).
Ultimately, if you can ignite emotional connections/tension, your readers will forgive or even fail to notice the liberties you take with plot points. Character comes first, plot second. Always.
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Is this a Bane original, because it's damn good:
ReplyDeletethese are more plot points than story points (where plot gets you from physical point A to point Z and story gets you from emotional point Normal to emotional point Somewhere Else).
Ha, I wish I were that (i am not clever enough to come up with a word here, so insert your own). It's actually an interpolation/redux from something I read in SECOND SIGHT: AN EDITOR'S TALKS ON REVISING & PUBLISHING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS by Cheryl Klein (a senior editor for Scholastic and the continuity editor for several of the latter Harry Potter books).
ReplyDeleteLogic and I have never been the best of friends anyway. I think I forgive messy plot points rather easily. Sometimes too easily. I NEVER forgive a lack of character or emotional involvement.
ReplyDeleteDude; that was totally awesome :)
ReplyDeleteYep, there were a lot of logic points that didn't add up for me in the HP series; but the character and world building sold me. I feel the same way about the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris. Like, why couldn't I have thought of that? I do not like Sookie's character; but I GET HER.
Her character makes sense, her world makes sense. I love the vivid imagery Charlaine portrays; and have the same respect for JK and her creation.
And even though I haven't read any of the Twilight series (I watched the first movie and decided the theme definitely wasn't for me) you gotta give Stephanie Meyers kudos for creating such a unique world and its rules. And the love story is appealing - if I were into teenaged angst.
Yes, sometimes plot logic has to be sacrificed in order to emotionally engage a reader. I'm with you Bane; I can forgive almost anything if the characters are well portrayed.
.........dhole
Taryn, definitely... characters must make sense. I, however, am probably too unforgiving of plot issues. Something I need to work on.
ReplyDeleteDonna, thanks for such an insightful comment. Especially like the Sookie referenced intimation about how we don't necessarily have to like a character, but if we understand them, we can enjoy the overall oeuvre (I do need to get around to watching me some True Blood; Twilight, I'll leave that to the wifey :). Realism in character trumps realism in plot every day.
That is so true. If you get your readers emotionally invested in your characters and in your story, they're pretty much willing to go wherever you'll take them.
ReplyDeleteLoved the post, interesting distinctions between plot and story. I’m going to have to think about this a little more.
ReplyDeleteStory first, in my opinion, then character, and finally, after all that, plot.
ReplyDeleteI think of it like this: Story is the bones, character the bloody heart. Plot is just the road they take.
Nobody bonds to or cares about plot. It's the characters, and their story, that's what we care about.
- Eric
Eric, like the analogy. Borrowing from it, I consider plot to be more of the connective tissue... that is, I want the plot to be integrally entwined with the story, always, not just a path/vehicle for the characters to achieve their arc progression. Splitting grays, I guess, and maybe why I tend to be harsher than maybe I should be on crazy plot points.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how difficult it was for J.K. to come up with the whole time turner concept. I have to admit, she made it work though, even though I have issues about understanding how one can see one's self in the past. How can two selves exist at the same time? I know J.K.R. covered her bases by having Dumbledore tell the kids that they must not be seen. But, I agree with you, in the end, it didn't matter if the logic behind the time turner was plausible or not because of what she did with the story.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
BTW, I just watched the video and LOVED it! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete