Wednesday, January 15, 2014

The Threat of Death in Comedy



I know, what a weird title for a blog post, right?  But I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.  Not just because the news is full of death and destruction, but because the idea of death and our fear of it, impact every kind of storytelling.

Even comedies.

In The Hero’s Journey, the notion of transformation for the main character usually plays out through a journey to the land of “death” and back again.  It’s clear what this means in a drama or action movie, where actual physical death is part of the stakes created by the writer.

But how does this threat of death play out in films like THE 4O YEAR OLD VIRGIN, or THE HANGOVER, or THE HEAT?

“Death” is just as front and center in comedy, and part of the function of these funny stories is to help us process the fact that we’re all gonna die.  And we pretty much face the threat of it every day, in all kinds of niggling, mundane and not so mundane ways.

Let’s take the 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN.  Is Steve Carell going to physically die if he doesn’t sleep with Catherine Keener?  No.  But can someone metaphorically “die” if they lack connection and intimacy in their life?  Yes.  The prospect of never finding love is a kind of “death” in our human experience.  The threat of this is just as emotionally serious as the threat of being thrown off a cliff.

What about THE HANGOVER?  Death plays out here in two ways.  Doug’s groomsmen buddies are threatened with actual physical annihilation from various sources (Mr. Chow, anyone?) But what drives these guys to take so many risks?  The fact that their buddy might miss his wedding to the RIGHT woman.  Again, “death” here is the threat of the end of a relationship or dream. If they ruin Doug’s relationship, they will have killed something really important.  This metaphorical death is so important, that they put their ACTUAL lives in danger.

THE HEAT.  Yeah, they’re cops.  And yeah, they deal with bad guys.  But even more important in the movie is the connection between these two women—one who has no friends due to the fact she’s not a team player, and the other, because of her over-the-top disregard for other people’s feelings.  When these two women bond, the stakes are huge.  Going back to being alone, for each of them, is impossible.  In this case, the threat of splitting apart their "team" is the death moment.  This type of threat happens a lot in buddy comedies.

So think about it.  Does your comedy have the threat of “death” (metaphorical or actual) included in the stakes?

In The Hero’s Journey, the hero faces death two times. Once, at the end of ACT II (called The Ordeal), and again in the climax (called Resurrection.)  In comedies, the Ordeal usually involves the main character blowing up his/her relationship or making a mistake that causes them to fail at achieving their goal.  This is then followed by scenes of them sitting around in their underwear in a pizza box littered apartment, crying.  Or walking sadly in the rain.  They have lost their friendship or relationship or dream.  

Then they “Seize the Sword”—they get an idea of how to pursue their loved one or dream in a new way, and they go for it in ACT III.

In “Resurrection” (the climax,) they must face this same "death" once more, but this time use the lessons they learned from The Ordeal.  They act differently in this moment, they must change and grow, in order to to be resurrected and "live."

Does that make sense?

So look at your comedy, and ask, “Is there the threat of some kind of death in my story? And if not, how can I go back and re-think the stakes?”

Most great comedies make us laugh and appreciate life.  And the only way to do this is to have our characters face its opposite.

The Big D.

I'd love to hear from you.  If you've written or are writing a comedy, what kind of death have you built in?

15 comments:

  1. I'm Mimi Bieber never thought i will ever again believed in Love Spells or voodoo because i have been cheated by many spell casters out there who claimed they are powerful but they are just scam who knows nothing but to cast fake spells. But not until when I read a post of a man on the internet some years ago, this post talk about a powerful spell caster, who can help with any kind of relationship problem. I contacted this man, and he proved how powerful he was to me through the result of the spell he cast for me. My Husband broke up with me for no reason for almost 3 years and i tried all I could to have him back because I really love him so much but all my effort did not work out. We met at our early age at the college and we both have feelings for each other and we got married happily for 2 years with no kid and he woke up one morning and he told me she's going on a divorce.I thought it was a joke and when he came back from work he tender to me a divorce letter and he packed all my loads from his house. I ran mad and I tried all I could to have him back but all did not work out. I was lonely for months.So when I told the spell caster what happened he said he will help me and he asked for her full name and her picture. I gave him that. At first I was skeptical but I gave it a try because have tried so many spell casters and there is no solution...so when he finished with the readings, he got back to me that she's with a man and that man is the reason why she left me...The spell caster said he will help me with a spell that will surely bring her back. But I never believe all this. He told me i will see a positive result within 6 days..6 days later, he called me himself and came to me apologizing and he told me he will come back to me. I can’t believe this, it was like a dream because i never believe this will work out after trying many spell casters and there is no solution.The spell caster is so powerful and after that he helped me with a pregnancy spell and i got pregnant a month later.We are now happy been together again and with lovely kid. This spell caster has really changed my life and i will forever thankful to him. He has helped many of my friends too with similar problem too and they are happy and thankful to him..This man is indeed the most powerful spell caster have ever experienced in life. Am Posting this to the Forum in case there is anyone who has similar problem and still looking for a way out.

    You can reach him to his personal
    E-mail: bravespellcaster@gmail.com
    Web site :http://lovespelldrbrave.weebly.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HOW I GET MY MAN BACK URGENTLY WITH OSHOGUMSPELLTEMPLE@LIVE.COM

      My Man come back after two years of Separation. We both love each other. we love to have kids together but his parent want another girl for him. Just two one ear after our marriage, things were really hard with us because he depends on his dad to earn money. Then he decide to live me for the another girl whom his parent choose for him. i search every where for him and i could not find him. Left the country and i was left alone with pregnancy and pain. i read different book on broken marriage and get ex back just to encourage my self and seeks help. i visit different site then a friend direct me to Dr oshogum with his email address OSHOGUMSPELLTEMPLE@LIVE.COM, than i contact him and tell him my problem and i did what he ask me to do after two days of doing what Dr oshogum said, my husband called me and ask of my location and ask of our baby. To the glory of Dr. oshogum my Husband is back my life and his parent suddenly love me, Get us a new apartment. It's now a happy family. all for the help of Dr. oshogum. My life now is like there was never a horrible past or pain. You should quickly contact OSHOGUM now for your marriage or relationship problem contact oshogum now with oshogumspelltemple@live.com And he also help different persons to solve all kind problems such as
      1) Love Spells
      2) Lost Love Spells
      3) Divorce Spells
      4) Marriage Spells
      5) Binding Spell.
      6) Breakup Spells
      7) Banish a past Lover
      8.) You want to be promoted in your office/ Lottery spell
      9) want to satisfy your lover

      If you have any problem in life, simply contact him VIA email: oshogumspelltemple@live.com to get instant solutions to your problem
      contact oshogum now with oshogumspelltemple@live.com

      Delete
    2. I'm selling Western Union , Bank and Paypal Transfers all over the world. I'm getting much stuff through emails but also have a big experience in botnets etc. I've got 5 western union main computers data with the help of a strong botnet. Now I can change the info of a WU MTCN and can redirect any payment on any name. Simply I change the receiver name and country and payment goes to that person to whom i want to send. If anyone want to make big and instant money than contact me for deal.
      Info needed for WU Transfers :-

      1: First Name
      2: Last Name
      3: City
      4: Country

      Price List For WU Transfer:

      $1500 Transfer = $150 Charges
      $2000 Transfer = $300
      $3500 Transfer = $450
      $4500 Transfer = $500
      $5500 Transfer = $600

      Terms & Conditions :

      A person can take transfer once in a week and maximum 2 times in a month .

      If anyone want to do regular business with me then you must have many bank accounts,paypal,money bookers and fake ids for western union because after 2 or 3 transfers your paypal and Wu ids can be black listed or banned. So think before deal. Make big transactions and get a side and give other peoples chance or try to gather many fake accounts and work with me on regular basis.

      You can Contact us 24/7

      Contact as for deal : Email – Westernunionofficial.service@gmail.com

      Delete
  2. i never believe that there still exist a real death spell caster after all this years of disappointment from the enormous spammers on the Internet who go about scamming people, until i was opportune to meet peter wise popularly known as the Noble man, through a close friend Mr Bernard who he (peter Wise) had helped before ,when i contacted him with his email via peterwiseherbalcenter@gmail.com ,i explain how my ex have been giving me problem in my marriage , she never allowed me a moment of peace,and i need to end it by killing her ,and i don't want to make use of assassin because it will be risky so i needed to do it in a spiritual way that's why i decided to contact him , he assured me not to worry as i have contacted the right person at the right time, i co-operated with him and in less than a week my ex was dead , she slept and never woke up all thanks to peter Wise indeed he is really a noble man ...
    you can contact peter Wise for any death spell, such as to kill your superior in the office and take his or her place , death spell to kill your father and inherit his wealth ,death spell to kill anyone who have scammed you in the past ,spell for increase in salaries , spell for promotion at the office , spell to get your ex lover back, a spell to win a case in the court , he also cast spell for HIV and AIDS cure ,, if things is not working well in your life then you need to contact peter wise .
    call or whats-app him via +2349059610643

    ReplyDelete
  3. I NEED MY EX LOVER BACK Contact: Unityspelltemple@gmail.com ,Is certainly the best spell caster online, and his result is 100% guarantee.My Names is Julie Collins from United states.
    After 12years of marriage, me and my husband has been into one quarrel or the other until he finally left me and moved to California to be with another woman. I felt my life was over and my kids thought they would never see their father again. i tried to be strong just for the kids but i could not control the pains that torments my heart, my heart was filled with sorrows and pains because i was really in love with my husband. Every day and night i think of him and always wish he would come back to me, I was really upset and i needed help, so i searched for help online and I came across a website that suggested that Dr Unity can help get ex back fast. So, I felt I should give him a try. I contacted him and he told me what to do and i did it then he did a (Love spell) for me. 28 hours later, my husband really called me and told me that he miss me and the kids so much, So Amazing!! So that was how he came back that same day,with lots of love and joy,and he apologized for his mistake,and for the pain he caused me and the kids. Then from that day,our Marriage was now stronger than how it were before, All thanks to Dr Unity. he is so powerful and i decided to share my story on the internet that Dr.Unity real and powerful spell caster who i will always pray to live long to help his children in the time of trouble, if you are here and you need your Ex back or your husband moved to another woman, do not cry anymore, contact this powerful spell caster now. Here’s his contact: Email him at: Unityspelltemple@gmail.com ,
    you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348071622464 ,
    you can also visit his blogspot: https://urgentspell.blogspot.com ,
    his website: http://salvationlovetemple.yolasite.com.

    ReplyDelete
  4. HIV FREE ALL THANKS TO DR GOODLUCK.
    Hi Everyone
    Am so full with JOY sharing this testimony about the GOD sent to my life Dr GOODLUCK, who will believe that a herb can cure HIV&AIDS i never believe that this will work i have spend a lot when getting drugs from the hospital to keep me healthy, what i was waiting for is death because i was broken, one day i hard about this great man who is well know of HIV, cancer cure, i decided to email him, unknowingly to me that this will be the end of the HIV&AIDS in my body, he prepare the herb for me, and give me instruction on how to take it, at the end of the 17days after i took the cure as he told me to, he then told me to go to the hospital for a check up, and i went, surprisingly after the test the doctor confirm me negative, i thought it was a joke, i went to other hospital was also negative, then i took my friend who was also suffering from HIV and CANCER to the DOCTOR whos name is Dr.Goodluck, after the treatment she was also confirm both disease free . He also have the herb to cure. (1) CANCER, (2) PENIS ENLARGEMENT, (3) HIV&AIDS, (4) URINARY TRACT INFECTION, (5) YOU WANT YOUR EX BACK OR WANT TO STOP DIVORCE OR SAVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP HE CAN HELP YOU ALSO, (6) IMPOTENCE, (7) BARENESS/INFERTILITY, (8) DIARRHEA, (9) ASTHMA, (10) DIABETES, (11) HERPS ETC, please i want every one with this virus to be free and be cured, that is why am dropping his email address and Whatsapp number for easy contact to him. contact him on his Email: goodluck05spellcaster@gmail.com or Add him up on Whats-app: +2348138654465,you can also visit his website:http://drgoodluck.simplesite.com/. do not hesitate to email him, he is a good and a great man. Dr.GOODLUCK thank you for saving my life, and I promise I will always and forever testify for your good work...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hey Guys , i am Jessica Wayne from TX, USA. Life without my husband was a real mess for me and my children I am so happy to get my Ex back through the help of Dr Noble the spell caster . My greatest surprise was that 48 hours after the Doctor prepared the spell for me, my husband who has abandoned me for 4 years suddenly called me unexpectedly and am so happy that we have come to become one again through the help of Dr Noble and am so happy to be with my husband once again. Dr Noble is a very wonderful spell caster, you can contact him if you need his assistant because i know he can also help you. contact him through his email: templeofjoyandprosperity@gmail.com call him or Whatsapp on +2348145643630 immediately Hey Guys , i am Jessica Wayne from TX, USA. Life without my husband was a real mess for me and my children I am so happy to get my Ex back through the help of Dr Noble the spell caster . My greatest surprise was that 48 hours after the Doctor prepared the spell for me, my husband who has abandoned me for 4 years suddenly called me unexpectedly and am so happy that we have come to become one again through the help of Dr Noble and am so happy to be with my husband once again. Dr Noble is a very wonderful spell caster, you can contact him if you need his assistant because i know he can also help you. contact him through his email: templeofjoyandprosperity@gmail.com call him or Whatsapp on +2348145643630 immediately

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm selling Western Union , Bank and Paypal Transfers all over the world. I'm getting much stuff through emails but also have a big experience in botnets etc. I've got 5 western union main computers data with the help of a strong botnet. Now I can change the info of a WU MTCN and can redirect any payment on any name. Simply I change the receiver name and country and payment goes to that person to whom i want to send. If anyone want to make big and instant money than contact me for deal.
      Info needed for WU Transfers :-

      1: First Name
      2: Last Name
      3: City
      4: Country

      Price List For WU Transfer:

      $1500 Transfer = $150 Charges
      $2000 Transfer = $300
      $3500 Transfer = $450
      $4500 Transfer = $500
      $5500 Transfer = $600

      Terms & Conditions :

      A person can take transfer once in a week and maximum 2 times in a month .

      If anyone want to do regular business with me then you must have many bank accounts,paypal,money bookers and fake ids for western union because after 2 or 3 transfers your paypal and Wu ids can be black listed or banned. So think before deal. Make big transactions and get a side and give other peoples chance or try to gather many fake accounts and work with me on regular basis.

      You can Contact us 24/7

      Contact as for deal : Email – Westernunionofficial.service@gmail.com

      Delete
  6. BEST ONLINE LOVE SPELL CASTER LOTTERY SPELL CASTER TO GET YOUR EX LOVER, HUSBAND, WIFE, GIRLFRIEND OR BOYFRIEND BACK. ADD HIM UP ON WHATSAPP: +2349066410185

    Hello my respectable viewers and i'm from (FLORIDA, UNITED STATE) I am very happy to share this amazing testimony, i was hurt and heart broken when my husband left me with our kid, i was confused and didn't know what to do, i loved him so much, i tried all i could to bring him back but all my effort was in vain , on one faithful day i explained my problem to my friend, and she told me of a great love spell caster called "dr gbojie" whom also make her pregnant when she was looking for a child, i never believed in spells but i have give a try to see if things will get better, i contacted DR gbojie through the contact info my friend gave to me, after some hours the spell caster responded to me he told me to stay and gave me some instructions on what to do and i did exactly as i was told, to my greatest surprise, my husband who has not called me for a very 3 yrs , called me and start apologizing for all the wrongs he did to me and pleaded with me that he want to return home with me and the kids, now he loved me more than ever before, my respectable viewers brothers and sisters if you are passing through any kind of problem contact him and i give you 100% guarantee that he will solve your problems. this is his contacts: GBOJIESPIRITUALTEMPLE@yahoo.com or GBOJIESPIRITUALTEMPLE@gmail.com add him up on whatsApp at: +2349066410185 .or check out his website :http://gbojiespiritualtemple.website2.me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm selling Western Union , Bank and Paypal Transfers all over the world. I'm getting much stuff through emails but also have a big experience in botnets etc. I've got 5 western union main computers data with the help of a strong botnet. Now I can change the info of a WU MTCN and can redirect any payment on any name. Simply I change the receiver name and country and payment goes to that person to whom i want to send. If anyone want to make big and instant money than contact me for deal.
      Info needed for WU Transfers :-

      1: First Name
      2: Last Name
      3: City
      4: Country

      Price List For WU Transfer:

      $1500 Transfer = $150 Charges
      $2000 Transfer = $300
      $3500 Transfer = $450
      $4500 Transfer = $500
      $5500 Transfer = $600

      Terms & Conditions :

      A person can take transfer once in a week and maximum 2 times in a month .

      If anyone want to do regular business with me then you must have many bank accounts,paypal,money bookers and fake ids for western union because after 2 or 3 transfers your paypal and Wu ids can be black listed or banned. So think before deal. Make big transactions and get a side and give other peoples chance or try to gather many fake accounts and work with me on regular basis.

      You can Contact us 24/7

      Contact as for deal : Email – Westernunionofficial.service@gmail.com

      Delete
  7. Thanks you Dr climent Scott, for the restoration of my marriage. We have been separated for a 4 years. I started searching on the net for people who God restored their marriages and I found Dr climent the great spell caster how he has help so many relationship by his spell casting with his contact , i contact him for help suddenly after the spell casting my husband return back home 2 days after the spell casting and ask for forgiveness and now we are living together happily once again thank you Dr climent for your help. email Dr climent for help EMAIL via: whatsapp him +2347036879479 or email him drclimentscott@gmail.com / drclimentscott@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks you Dr climent Scott, for the restoration of my marriage. We have been separated for a 4 years. I started searching on the net for people who God restored their marriages and I found Dr climent the great spell caster how he has help so many relationship by his spell casting with his contact , i contact him for help suddenly after the spell casting my husband return back home 2 days after the spell casting and ask for forgiveness and now we are living together happily once again thank you Dr climent for your help. email Dr climent for help EMAIL via: whatsapp him +2347036879479 or email him drclimentscott@gmail.com / drclimentscott@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm selling Western Union , Bank and Paypal Transfers all over the world. I'm getting much stuff through emails but also have a big experience in botnets etc. I've got 5 western union main computers data with the help of a strong botnet. Now I can change the info of a WU MTCN and can redirect any payment on any name. Simply I change the receiver name and country and payment goes to that person to whom i want to send. If anyone want to make big and instant money than contact me for deal.
    Info needed for WU Transfers :-

    1: First Name
    2: Last Name
    3: City
    4: Country

    Price List For WU Transfer:

    $1500 Transfer = $150 Charges
    $2000 Transfer = $300
    $3500 Transfer = $450
    $4500 Transfer = $500
    $5500 Transfer = $600

    Terms & Conditions :

    A person can take transfer once in a week and maximum 2 times in a month .

    If anyone want to do regular business with me then you must have many bank accounts,paypal,money bookers and fake ids for western union because after 2 or 3 transfers your paypal and Wu ids can be black listed or banned. So think before deal. Make big transactions and get a side and give other peoples chance or try to gather many fake accounts and work with me on regular basis.

    You can Contact us 24/7

    Contact as for deal : Email – Westernunionofficial.service@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I was despondent because i had a very small penis, about 2.5 inches soft and 4 inches hard not nice enough to satisfy a woman, i have been in so many relationship, but cut off because of my situation, i have used so many product which doctors prescribe for me, but none could offer me the help i searched for. i saw some few comments on the INTERNET about this specialist called Dr movo and decided to contact him on his email: {drmovo.supernaturalherbalmedic@gmail.com} so I decided to give his herbal product a try. i emailed him and he got back to me, he gave me some comforting words with his herbal pills for Penis Enlargement, Within 3 week of it, i began to feel the enlargement of my penis, " and now it just 4 weeks of using his products my penis is about 9 inches longer, and i had to settle out with my Ex girlfriend JOY, i was surprised when she said that she is satisfied with my sex and i have got a large penis. Am so happy, thanks to Dr movo I also learn that Dr movo also help with Breast Enlargement Hips and Bums Enlargement etc.. If you are in any situation with a little Penis, weak ejaculation, small breast_hips_bums do get to Dr movo now for help on his email:{drmovo.supernaturalherbalmedic@gmail.com} or whatsapp +2347061865209.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It is a very hard situation when playing the lottery and never won, or keep winning low fund not up to 100 bucks, i have been a victim of such a tough life, the biggest fund i have ever won was 100 bucks, and i have been playing lottery for almost 12 years now, things suddenly change the moment i came across a secret online, a testimony of a spell caster called DR EMU, who help people in any type of lottery numbers, i was not easily convinced, but i decided to give try, now i am a proud lottery winner with the help of DR EMU, i won $1,000.0000.00 and i am making this known to every one out there who have been trying all day to win the lottery, believe me this is the only way to win the lottery.

    Contact him via email Emutemple@gmail.com
    What's app +2347012841542
    Https://emutemple.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete