Chapter 1: The Legacy of Carl Jung

Today marks the birthday of Carl Jung, the esteemed Swiss psychotherapist and the pioneer of analytical psychology, who was born in 1875 and passed away in 1961.

Jung's contributions to psychology and culture are monumental. Concepts such as introversion and extraversion, the collective unconscious, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator all stem from his theories. His ideas on synchronicity, archetypes, and the shadow have become integral to our understanding of the human psyche.

Screenwriters and filmmakers should delve into Jung's work. If you think you grasp the essence of the Hero's Journey, remember that Joseph Campbell was heavily influenced by Jung—so much so that he edited "The Portable Jung."

The transformation arc of a protagonist? Jung's concept of "individuation" offers a unique framework for understanding character development.

What about Jung’s insights on dreams?

In dreams, the initial phase sets the scene with a statement of place and introduces the protagonist, which I refer to as the exposition. This phase outlines the dream's context, participants, and often the initial scenario.

The second phase involves plot development, while the third phase signifies a turning point, or peripeteia, where a pivotal event occurs, radically altering the circumstances, echoing Aristotle's ideas.

The final phase, resolution or alysis, brings forth the outcome of the dream work.

This four-phase structure can be readily applied to many dreams, indicating that dreams often possess a dramatic architecture, which is undeniably relevant to screenplay structure.

If you seek a more concrete example of why understanding Carl Jung is essential, consider the film "Inception."

The entire narrative is infused with Jungian themes and motifs, as discussed in my previous post: "Inception: Carl Jung's Wet Dream."

Over the past two decades, I have been passionate about studying Jung and integrating his insights into screenwriting and storytelling. Here's a quote from Jung that encapsulates this idea:

"The psychological rule says that when an inner situation is not made conscious, it happens outside as fate." This means that when a person remains divided within and fails to recognize their inner conflicts, the world will manifest these struggles externally.

Apply this concept to a protagonist in your narrative. A "flawed protagonist" becomes significantly more intriguing when viewed as someone grappling with a divided psyche, creating a dynamic interplay with the story world that compels them to confront their psychological challenges.

For example, Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz" is an orphan who feels out of place in Kansas. The universe sends a tornado to whisk her away to Oz, where she meets the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, setting the stage for her transformation and desire to return home, encapsulated in the phrase, "There's no place like home."

Rick from "Casablanca" is a cynic harboring unresolved feelings from a past romance. The universe reintroduces his ex-lover, prompting him to confront his emotional wounds and, aided by Mentor Victor Laszlo, reconnect with his ideals, ultimately acting selflessly to let Ilsa and Victor escape Casablanca.

Similarly, Red in "The Shawshank Redemption" has nearly lost hope after years of institutionalization. The arrival of Andy Dufresne challenges him to rekindle his spirit as Andy's persistent hope ignites a change in Red, culminating in the poignant final words, "I hope."

This narrative dynamic—where the universe orchestrates events that compel characters to face their internal conflicts—recurs throughout film history. Jung's perspective encourages writers to rethink their storytelling approach by asking, "Why does this story need to unfold for this character at this time?" Their fate is not coincidental; it reflects a deeper narrative destiny tied to their psychological state at the story's outset.

This profound notion arises from a single idea proposed by Carl Jung, and there is so much more to glean from this "screenwriting guru."

Today, I honor the legacy of Carl Jung, sharing links to some of my writings on his influence:

• Carl Jung: "Memories, Dreams and Reflections"
• Universal Themes in Pixar Movies
• Who Am I?
• Who Am I? Revisited
• A five-part series "Writing Reflections on Carl Jung":
  • Part 1: Exploring Jung's theory of individuation as a process of becoming a 'whole' individual.
  • Part 2: Investigating how the unconscious seeks to emerge into consciousness and how this reflects in a protagonist's transformation.
  • Part 3: Understanding that enlightenment comes from acknowledging the darkness within, including the shadow self.
  • Part 4: Examining the notion that rejected aspects of the self manifest as external events, leading to character narrative imperatives.
  • Part 5: Reflecting on the idea that our potential future selves are rooted in our current selves.

So here’s to you, Carl Jung, the screenwriting "guru" we celebrate!

Finally, my book, The Protagonist's Journey: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling, delves deeply into Jung's concepts as they pertain to the art of storytelling.

Chapter 2: Jung's Influence in Modern Storytelling

In the video "Art Writing and Knowledge Production," the discussion revolves around how art and writing intersect to produce knowledge, illustrating Jung's impact on narrative forms.

Chapter 3: The Role of Influencers in Storytelling

The video "Social Media Influencer | Author Esabella Strickland" explores how contemporary narratives are shaped by influencers, reflecting a modern twist on Jungian archetypes.