storytelling

stories may be structurally the same but individual's experiences and personal character is what adds flourish to them and makes them more unique and intriguing 

my response to this week's question, are all stories the same?, is the following:

no.

let me expand on that. 

while most stories follow the handful of skeletal structures that have existed since the beginnings of written word, they also have unique authors that shape these blueprints into something more like a personalized human experience rather than a robotic set of rules. i think that it takes a specially powerful mind to be able to take something that everyone has given their piece on, and rework it into something new and exhilarating. many people try and fail to carry out this task, and i think that is because they are trapped in the belief that they have to produce something that fits into the classic structure-- artists do not become acclaimed because they exactly replicate something that is already famous. the awe factor comes from the ability to combine both mastery of the craft and personal flare in order to create something that is rare and incomparable in a sense. i believe that it is natural for artists to unintentionally make something that is arguably similar to another previously created thing, just because of the way our brains are wired to be a filing cabinet black hole filled with memories we aren't even conscious of remembering. but, on the other hand, it is important to acknowledge that all art is unique in its own way based on the hands of its creator. now, some art may be less unique than others, but that's another story that follows more along the path of subjectivity and "goodness". let me get back to the point-- we all have things to do today. stories may follow a historically similar structure, but the experience of the individuals who write them and their personal character is what adds flourish and makes them intriguing. 

before i go, i'd like to recommend something that may help you understand the added complexities of a piece of work that are usually subliminally mixed in a story. the early life page on wikipedia profiles. its uncommon that anyone that was ever a subject of recognition for anything to not have this on their wiki page. whenever i finish consuming a work of media-- may it be a show, book, song, piece of art, etc.-- i usually head to google to find more about the personal life of them. i personally find this type of research to be a really useful tool in bringing depth to understanding and analysis. working backwards from art to artist allows curious consumers to connect the dots and figure out what steps a person may have taken that would've lead them to create their new (least) favorite movie or song. 

i'll leave this post now, happy sunday.