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Can someone explain the similarities and differences between the three because I'm not understanding it at all. I looked at a video about this in regards to the Dramatica Theory by its co-creator but it didn't help at all. Heck I'd be happy with on online source (hopefully not wikipedia). Could someone help or point me in the right direction?
Posts: 174 | Registered: Aug 2010
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I think the theory involved is a philosophical one, and thus the difficulty grasping the concepts thereof, partly caused by terminology drift. A subject character is an observable entity. An object character is an observing entity, An impact character is an entity who influences either or both object and subject characters.
A subject character is subject to interpretation; therefore, is a biased, perhaps untrustworthy, subjective character. An object character strives for trustworthy, unbiased, objective observations; therefore, is an objective character. An impact character, or influence character as has become more prevalent recently in narrative theory, is in a sense a subject character who shapes a central subject character's actions and reactions yet has a different agenda.
Villains and nemeses and obstacle-antagonist-type characters are in a sense influence characters, so are supporting characters who encourage proactive progress addressing a protagonist's problem wanting satisfaction. Where a subject character is often a protagonist, and an object character is often a participating narrator or involved character reporting the dramatic action from within a narrative's immediate settings: time, place, and situation.
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