Back
when I was in
Junior school (Elementary school for any Americans reading), I vividly remember
having a morning assembly all about the Bermuda Triangle.
I have no idea now why the head teacher dedicated a whole half hour on the subject. Why he projected his voice about the topic across the hall in the wee early hours (way too early for us to process anything) is beyond me. Whether it was towards a special class project or to just bore everyone I don't know. However, unlike my friends and most of the year group around me, a spark of interest into this enigma, off the west Atlantic Ocean, captivated and fascinated me right to the core.
It would take many years later for me to work out (ironically) what this thing I was so struck and influenced by growing up as a kid was.
Mysteries.
Perhaps the aim of the assembly was simply to inspire young minds. Yet, that one assembly irreversibly helped channel my interests into unsolved mysteries. From Nessy to the Sasquatch, Atlantis to UFO's, I was hooked on the unexplainable and all the puzzling wonders of the world.
Cut to present day and mysteries still play a big part in my life and also my artwork.
It brings great joy to create a fictional story for this project with the core genre being mystery.
So, what makes a good mystery in fiction?
To thoroughly understand how to execute this theme, for the best possible outcome in narrative and gameplay, I researched and explored the key features of a mystery. These can be whittled down to nine fundamentals. The protagonist, victims, suspects, witnesses, an alibi, a red herring, evidence, crimes and clues.
After figuring out what these factors could be for the project, I had to apply them to the narrative. In order to do this correctly though, I had to first look at the five elements of a mystery story! Each one being basic but just as important as the next.
Firstly...characters. These are the chaps that we can connect and resonate with. They can cause different types of conflicts and tensions. Characters, summarise to the audience, the different qualities of what it is to be a human being; when involved in something like a crime or a fishy event.
Secondly, the setting. This has an immense effect on the characters in the overarching plot. It establishes the mood and atmosphere for the story but also builds a bridge for the audience to cross over; pulling them into the fictional world. Hints can also be placed foreshadowing events to come; from the change of weather to strange situations.
Thirdly, the plot. This one is really crucial. The plot must be believable. More so, the progress of it needs to advance at a pace that flows quick enough to engross the audience. Elements of mystery such as clues, evidence and suspects, must also be frequently woven in. These elements could be unveiled in a way that gives the audience another impression as to what is to come.
Fourthly, the problem. This applies to every mystery with a problem to solve. Why and what caused the puzzling crime or unusual event? Adding another layer, the story should have clues, so the audience can try to solve the puzzle alongside the protagonist or characters.
Lastly, the solution. The solution to the problem is the way the action is resolved. Usually the discovery of a missing piece to the jigsaw. Such as an item like a murder weapon. This leads to the 'aa-ha' moment; unmasking the complex situation. Surprise twists subverting narrative expectations are a must, but have to be executed well. A further approach to this could be to drive the narrative with a mystery of urgency. Limiting the time and place against the protagonist.
Overall, a great mystery is a suspenseful journey, unveiling small pieces to a bigger picture; as the story progresses. While at the same time, capturing the audience's attention by asking all the big questions. I hope to apply these classic storytelling methods to several video game components to full effect. Which I will discuss further in another post.
Now the mystery-crafting fun really begins!
[insert The X-Files theme here]
Thanks for reading :)
I have no idea now why the head teacher dedicated a whole half hour on the subject. Why he projected his voice about the topic across the hall in the wee early hours (way too early for us to process anything) is beyond me. Whether it was towards a special class project or to just bore everyone I don't know. However, unlike my friends and most of the year group around me, a spark of interest into this enigma, off the west Atlantic Ocean, captivated and fascinated me right to the core.
It would take many years later for me to work out (ironically) what this thing I was so struck and influenced by growing up as a kid was.
Mysteries.
Perhaps the aim of the assembly was simply to inspire young minds. Yet, that one assembly irreversibly helped channel my interests into unsolved mysteries. From Nessy to the Sasquatch, Atlantis to UFO's, I was hooked on the unexplainable and all the puzzling wonders of the world.
Cut to present day and mysteries still play a big part in my life and also my artwork.
It brings great joy to create a fictional story for this project with the core genre being mystery.
So, what makes a good mystery in fiction?
To thoroughly understand how to execute this theme, for the best possible outcome in narrative and gameplay, I researched and explored the key features of a mystery. These can be whittled down to nine fundamentals. The protagonist, victims, suspects, witnesses, an alibi, a red herring, evidence, crimes and clues.
After figuring out what these factors could be for the project, I had to apply them to the narrative. In order to do this correctly though, I had to first look at the five elements of a mystery story! Each one being basic but just as important as the next.
Firstly...characters. These are the chaps that we can connect and resonate with. They can cause different types of conflicts and tensions. Characters, summarise to the audience, the different qualities of what it is to be a human being; when involved in something like a crime or a fishy event.
Secondly, the setting. This has an immense effect on the characters in the overarching plot. It establishes the mood and atmosphere for the story but also builds a bridge for the audience to cross over; pulling them into the fictional world. Hints can also be placed foreshadowing events to come; from the change of weather to strange situations.
Thirdly, the plot. This one is really crucial. The plot must be believable. More so, the progress of it needs to advance at a pace that flows quick enough to engross the audience. Elements of mystery such as clues, evidence and suspects, must also be frequently woven in. These elements could be unveiled in a way that gives the audience another impression as to what is to come.
Fourthly, the problem. This applies to every mystery with a problem to solve. Why and what caused the puzzling crime or unusual event? Adding another layer, the story should have clues, so the audience can try to solve the puzzle alongside the protagonist or characters.
Lastly, the solution. The solution to the problem is the way the action is resolved. Usually the discovery of a missing piece to the jigsaw. Such as an item like a murder weapon. This leads to the 'aa-ha' moment; unmasking the complex situation. Surprise twists subverting narrative expectations are a must, but have to be executed well. A further approach to this could be to drive the narrative with a mystery of urgency. Limiting the time and place against the protagonist.
Overall, a great mystery is a suspenseful journey, unveiling small pieces to a bigger picture; as the story progresses. While at the same time, capturing the audience's attention by asking all the big questions. I hope to apply these classic storytelling methods to several video game components to full effect. Which I will discuss further in another post.
Now the mystery-crafting fun really begins!
[insert The X-Files theme here]
Thanks for reading :)
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