We’ve been asked to consider a taxonomy of world attributes as they relate to our Media 5 project. In the following blog, I hope to contextualise this to my piece Beecroft.

First of all we are to Cast the world. For example;

1.1 Which characters belong in the world? For my project, it would be the tough, or conversely,  those willing to be mules 
1.2 Which characters don’t belong in the world? The benevolent and naive 
1.3 When characters that don’t belong in the world still inhabit it, how do they and other characters react? Toward them, with trepidation but eventually with positivity as, those who don’t belong, are talismans of hope
1.4 What are the character hierarchies of the world, and how are they maintained? The primary populous includes societal leeches and the leech’s mules
1.5 What relationships exist between the characters and their world? How does the world affect them on a daily basis? The world fuels the leeches but it sucks dry the mule’s resources.

Next, we are to consider Structuring the world;

2.1 Does the world have a specific, tangible hold on the plot – things that literally can or can’t happen? In the world of Beecroft, the huge division between the rich and the poor prevents prosperity in the lower social economic bracket.
2.2 Does the world suggest – or demand – a specific type of emotional movement or arc? Perhaps with the existence of ‘growth characters’ like Mr. H, who is the voice of reason, the arc may swing into the positive field.
2.3 What’s the pace or feel of the world, and how does that play out in the sequences and scenes you write? Despair = fast paced and frantic, Controlled and calculating may give the sense of a timpani introduction, like in 2001 Space Odyssey, Hope = moderate, rocking fluidity.
2.4 Are actions affected by the world? What do characters feel they can and can’t do? (See 2.1)
2.5 What different varieties or versions of the world exist, and how do they play out through the plot? This question I will need more time to think about and discuss with my peers. 

Voicing the world

3.1 What does the world sound like – does it have a universal voice? Like with 2.5, I may require a second opinion
3.2 How might character dialogue be infected by the world – attitude, perspective, etc.? Like in draconian societies ruled by a dictator, one cannot be heard saying anything that goes against the leeches regime in this world
3.3 Does the dialogue complement or in fact juxtapose the world? The head leech character would compliment this world but by contrast, the mule juxtaposes. However, Mr. H’s voice aspires to entertain and subvert introducing a new formal element
3.4 Is there a style and pace to character dialogue that reflects what the world’s about? Yes! Beecroft’s compulsive and frantic belief that he is shrinking, in addition, the Head leech exudes a confident ostentatious language
3.5 What are the competing voices in the world, and how do they go about being heard? Beecroft must scream to be noticed, Mr. H uses humour and wisdom, and the Head leech boasts.

Theming the world

4.1 Does the world demand a type of understanding that translates into an obvious theme? Again, I will need clarification on this question
4.2 Which themes are already prevalent in the world? Capitalism, societal depletion, psychosis, hope, growth, transition, transsexuality — and which are denied? Marxism perhaps.  
4.3 How might theme and meaning be woven into the world through characters, action, visual motifs and dialogue – and then communicated out again, to the audience? This is a fairly open question but here is what I came up with; There is the theme of growth through the many references to horticulture, these sequences will be driven by jocular banter. Growth character Mr. H (the voice of reason) is transexual and does not conform to the world’s regime,. The Head leech is visually pristine in contrast to the other characters. Violent psychotic moments relay despair, confusion and hopelessness.