Friday, Jun. 18

Structure Doesn’t Limit Creativity

Though this article is referring to the ultra-simple interpretation of structure as proposed by Field, it could very well apply to any theory:

If before reading this post you were completely unfamiliar with Syd Field and his impact on the film industry, you may be cursing him at this moment, blaming him for introducing “formula” to the wonderful world of cinema and destroying creativity. As a writer who has attempted to write within this structure, I must admit it can be very daunting. But keep in mind that Syd Field’s structure is just that – a structure. It’s like a wash line. It gives support, but it doesn’t limit the variety of what you can hang on it.

Wonderful image - a wash line of meaning from which everything that is colorful and different and unique about a story hangs from.