Abstract
The Protagonist’s metamorphosis flows between events in the external world, the story’s physical realm, and ramifications in the internal world, the story’s psychological realm. An event occurs. The Protagonist absorbs its potential meaning. They respond. Another event happens. They process it. They make a choice and respond again. That chain of events and reactions runs through the entire story and comprises the structure of the Protagonist’s arc, manifesting a synergy between the external and internal worlds. This chapter examines the Pixar movie Finding Nemo as a prime example of this structure, how Marlin’s physical journey to rescue Nemo creates the context for Marlin’s psychological change: disunity, deconstruction, reconstruction, unity.
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Notes
- 1.
Refer to Chapter 1: The Protagonist’s Journey as Narrative Imperative for a recap of the many reasons why the Protagonist is the central character in a story.
- 2.
“The Universe in Verse 2020 trailer: ‘Antidotes to Fear of Death,” April 10, 2020, https://vimeo.com/406366141.
- 3.
C. G. Jung, “Practice of Psychotherapy,” Collected Works XVI (Princeton University Press, 1985), para. 448, p. 311.
- 4.
In the film and television business, this process of metamorphosis is typically referred to as “character arc.”
- 5.
In the movie, Crush’s voice is provided by writer-director Andrew Stanton.
- 6.
Ibid., p. 82.
Further Study
Carl Jung: Screenwriting Guru, Scott Myers, Go Into The Story, September 15, 2018, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/writing-reflections-on-carl-jung-2c9879e2f186.
Carl Jung on the Structure of Dreams: Subconscious Stories Revealed in Our Sleep in Four Acts, Scott Myers, Go Into The Story, May 30, 2020, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/carl-jung-on-the-structure-of-dreams-89ab83798203.
The Hero’s Journey vs. Superhero Stories, Scott Myers, Go Into The Story, June 30, 2016, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/the-heros-journey-vs-superhero-stories-9a74be7567e7.
The Psychopathology of Heroism, Scott Myers, Go Into The Story, May 18, 2020, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/the-psychopathology-of-heroism-8ee97fc4b006.
The Protagonist’s Journey: “We Are Not Prisoners of That Room,” Scott Myers, Go Into The Story, October 22, 2019, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/the-protagonists-journey-we-are-not-prisoners-of-that-room-3b0d250f643e.
Story and the Question of Self-Identity, Scott Myers, Go Into The Story, July 8, 2019, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/story-and-the-question-of-self-identity-bdee5fa5ccc6.
The Theology of Cinema: Chosen, Scott Myers, Go Into The Story, November 3, 2019, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/the-theology-of-cinema-chosen-b7a9291e821b.
The Theology of Cinema: Predestination, Scott Myers, Go Into The Story, February 2, 2020, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/the-theology-of-cinema-predestination-5c716414252e.
The Theology of Cinema: Redemption, Scott Myers, Go Into The Story, February 16, 2020, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/the-theology-of-cinema-redemption-fe0b3cda154c.
Lindsay Doran on “The Psychology of Storytelling,” Scott Myers (editor), Go Into The Story, March 6, 2014, https://gointothestory.blcklst.com/first-hand-reports-lindsay-doran-on-the-psychology-of-story-telling-edf125ef2f64.
References
Jung, C. G. (1985). “Practice of Psychotherapy,” Collected Works XVI; Princeton University Press.
Stanton, A & Peterson B & Reynolds D (screenplay), Stanton, A (Story) (2003). Finding Nemo; Pixar Animation Studios / Walt Disney Pictures.
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Myers, S. (2022). The Screenplay Universe. In: The Protagonist's Journey. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79682-2_7
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