Story v. World, II

1.28.15
STORY V.  WORLD

(Note: Evidently, this is something important to me. I wrote about this about 20 days ago. I hadn't remembered that I had, and hadn't quite started this blog yet. I thought it was all still just kicking around inside my brain! Well, one of these days I'll have to combine them.)

The characters of a story are made by the world they inhabit. The world of a story are affected by the characters that inhabit it. It's a cycle that is inter-dependent. Just how inder-dependent is up to the type of story.
I believe there are 4 types of stories. They stem from a rubric containing Story on the x-axis, and World on the y-axis. On the both of the sides (columns and rows), there are two categories: Simple, Complex. Fill in the table and you have 4 types of stories.

                                                     Story (Simple)                                Story (Complex)

World (Simple)         1. SimpleStory/SimpleWorld           2. ComplexStory/SimpleWorld

World (Complex)     4. SimpleStory/ComplexWorld        3. ComplexStory/ComplexWorld

1. A Simple Story in a Simple World requires a lot of audience input. They already know the basic rules of the world, the characters are known (or at least easily understandable), and the story makes an obvious point. An example of SimpleStory/SimpleWorld would be an Aesop's Fable. The audience understands that a lion is big and strong, a mouse is small and weak, a thorn in the foot really hurts, and being caught in a net would not be an easy thing to get out of. The story rolls along and everyone learns that even small and insignificant things can really be rather important. Or that you better make sure to repay a debt or you will be forever beholden and unable to get free of the ties that bind. 

2. In a Complex Story with a Simple World, the main focus is on the story. The World may be interesting, but it isn't a main player in the story. You could plunk the story into any world and the story would be able to continue. An example of this is Lord of the Rings. Yes. LOTR. The setting really is very simple. Beautiful, but simple. You have the Shire. You have Rivendale. You have Mordor. You have Rohan. The intricacies of the story, and what make it something that people read, re-read, obsess over are the characters and the story. The story is incredibly complex. Different pieces have to be understood to understand other pieces that may or may not take place. But, those pieces may not be fully relevent unless you know and understand the history of the characters--the why and whatfors of all those pieces. The way they weave together, turn back on themselves, flow back to a some destination in the future, that is what makes LOTR, Lord of the Rings.

3. A Complex Story in a Complex World requires a LOT of author input. The author must make sure the audience understands the various levels of the world because it acts as another character in the story. The reader has to understand the world to be able to understand the story. The story has lots of twists, turns, and layer upon layer upon layer. An example of a Complex Story/Complex World is Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series. Things unfold. Oh, but that unfolding actually folded something else inside it and now there is something else that must be unfolded. And then, once that piece is unfolded, you realize there are 1,000 Paper Cranes and you hope to make a wish. But, before you can make a wish you have to refold all of the cranes to make any sense of your wish in the first place!

4. That brings us to a Simple Story in a Complex World. At its core, the story is simple and known. The world makes the story spectacular because it's intricate, intersting, and gives a lot of opportunities for whiz-bang things to happen. An example of SimpleStory/ComplexWorld is Star Wars. Yes. SimpleStory/ComplexWorld. The complexity of a world that existed "a long time ago, in a far distant galaxy" is obvious. This story would not be as spectacular if it was in a different world. But the story is a simple one: Good vs. Evil, Light vs. Dark, Us vs. Them. But what about, the story of Annikan Skywalker becoming Darth Vader? Is he on the side of the Rebels or the Empire? He is the Empire. Good vs. Evil. And what about Yoda teaching Luke Skywalker that he holds keys to unlocking the true release of anyone held in captivity? Is he with the Rebels or Empire? Well, he has to decide and...Light vs. Dark. It's a story that has been told since stories have been being told: someone wants to be all-powerful and seeks to rule. And will do it via any oppressive means necessary. Someone else will stand up to them and say, "That's not right." Yes, there are side stories and the characters have various levels of conflict in deciding which side they will help. But, in the end, it's Us vs. Them.

All of these stories are necessary and entertaining. They are also important because they hold mirrors for us to look at ourselves and our connections to each other and our own world.  Sometimes, our story is simple. Sometimes it is complex. Sometimes the setting takes a large role in what happens in our story. Sometimes it doesn't. But, in the end, we get to participate in very diverse and complex stories in an increasingly complex and diverse world.
What will my final story be?