Dissecting Dragons: Episode 171: Inner Landscapes - The Transformative Character Arc in Speculative Fiction

Episode 171: Inner Landscapes - The Transformative Character Arc in Speculative Fiction

Most characters in fiction are not the same people by the end of the story that they were at the beginning. This change can be subtle or overt, lauded with much physical action or conversely almost entirely something that happens within the characters own mind. While there are examples - usually series of books - whereby the character changes very little, for the most part the plot hinges on a character's journey from the person they were to the person they have become. Different types of media tend to favour different types of character arc, which is all well and good, except that we are being trained to only recognise a character journey that fits a rather narrow set of parameters. So this week the dragons delve into different transformative arcs and how they can be used - singly, in conjunction and juxtaposed to each other. On the slab this week - Captain Marvel, The Matrix, Inkmistress by Audrey Coulthurst and many more.

 

Title Music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic