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Description:

Sure, we all enjoy our peace and quiet, but there would be no stories without a little conflict.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:02

A great story needs characters and a setting, but it needs a lot more. [A zombie, gladiator and woman]

00:07

Otherwise… “random guy sitting on a park bench” could be a story. [Man sat on a bench with swans walking round]

00:11

Riveting.

00:12

Say you've got two space marines, hanging out on the moon of a distant planet.

00:15

So far so good, especially if you're into outer space. [One of the marines yawns]

00:19

But the setup alone doesn't make for a story.

00:22

If these space marines just spend all their time on the moon playing gin rummy, they might [Space marines playing a card game]

00:26

have some fun…

00:27

…but the readers or watchers won't.

00:30

Nah… we're going to need some conflict.

00:31

And hopefully that conflict entails more than just a misdeal. [The table explodes and the word conflict appears]

00:34

In literature, conflict is a struggle between two forces. ['Force' appears in two different colors and pushes against each other]

00:38

And, since there are lots of different kinds of forces, there are lots of different kinds

00:42

of conflict, too.

00:44

One type of conflict is person versus person: when two characters have a conflict with each [Two people wanting to fight]

00:48

other.

00:49

So if each of our space marines was trying to declare the moon in the name of their respective [Space marines each put down a flag]

00:54

planets, that'd be prime person versus person conflict.

00:57

Another type of conflict is person versus society: when a character is in conflict with [Man has fists up against society]

01:03

the values of their society, or a group with authority.

01:07

If one of the space marines is a renegade who wants to plant flowers on the moon, against [Flowers appear]

01:11

the strict orders of the galactic government…

01:13

…then we've got some person versus society conflict on our hands. [Robot appears]

01:17

And…we’re pretty sure he’ll be played by Matt Damon in the movie.

01:18

We also have person vs. nature conflicts: when a character faces a force of nature.

01:23

So if our space marine is facing a horrible storm… [Space marine clinging on to a tree because of the wind]

01:26

…or dealing with a grizzly bear that somehow found a space helmet, our marine is in a person [Grizzly bear pops up with a helmet on]

01:32

vs. nature conflict.

01:33

Last but not least, there’s person versus self: when a character is in conflict with

01:39

him-or-herself.

01:40

It can be something as simple as a space marine who's having trouble convincing himself to [Space marine asleep]

01:44

get out of bed in the morning.

01:45

Which… might not sound as scary as facing down a space tornado or a grizzly bear… [The other space marine flies past the window in the storm]

01:49

…but with a comfortable enough bed, the struggle can be very real. [The space marine sees the bear and closes the curtains]

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