You say that but narrative is the only way to drive the theme. The theme is nothing without the narrative, it doesn't exist. And part of judging a story is matching how well the narrative displays the theme.
Namely the theme is always present, always seen, or the narrative is just empty calories.
O.K. But you don't drive the theme. The theme is a story writers tool and not a part of the story. The story and narrative are what the audience is meant to see, not the themes. The theme is something you fall back on when you get confused or lost as a writer, just as the frame of a building is not to be seen once the building is completed. As with scaffolding, you should be able to remove the theme from your story, leaving no traces, and still have an intact story.
Themes aren't scaffolding, they are foundational. Without the theme you might have an intact story, except what does it mean? Stories need meanings and those meanings are called themes. Every great story constantly has it's meaning showing, implied. My point is the theme is shown, it has to be.
You say that but narrative is the only way to drive the theme. The theme is nothing without the narrative, it doesn't exist. And part of judging a story is matching how well the narrative displays the theme.
Namely the theme is always present, always seen, or the narrative is just empty calories.
O.K. But you don't drive the theme. The theme is a story writers tool and not a part of the story. The story and narrative are what the audience is meant to see, not the themes. The theme is something you fall back on when you get confused or lost as a writer, just as the frame of a building is not to be seen once the building is completed. As with scaffolding, you should be able to remove the theme from your story, leaving no traces, and still have an intact story.
Themes aren't scaffolding, they are foundational. Without the theme you might have an intact story, except what does it mean? Stories need meanings and those meanings are called themes. Every great story constantly has it's meaning showing, implied. My point is the theme is shown, it has to be.
So, tell me the themes of Buffy without looking them up.
If you want to know something that is off topic. You go find that on your own.