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--- lb:theme [2025-07-11 11:21:42] – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
+++ lb:theme [2025-07-12 07:32:08] (current) – [Elaboration] ninjasr
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+====== Theme ======
+<WRAP centeralign>
+A theme is any abstract idea which is explored within a story.
+</WRAP>
+{{tag>story_theory}}
+===== Elaboration =====
+This is the broadest yet most specific definition of a theme. And yes, ‘any’ means ‘any’.
+Themes don't necessarily have to be intentional, as themes can end up being emergent without the author intending it. Though this shouldn't be confused with [[playground:death of the author]].\\
+Though when people (amateur YouTube critics) talk about themes, they tend to not talk about the emergent ones but the ones that //are// intentionally placed in a film.
+Examples of the type that are intentional would be //[[lb:androids.sheep]]// in [[lb:Blade Runner]] and “//Life, uh, finds a way//” in [[playground:Jurassic Park]]. Coincidentally, neither of those films explore those specific themes properly. Jurassic Park, in fact, has a different emergent theme: showing the consequences of Zoo mismanagement.
+[[lb:dn]] is probably the pre-eminent example of a work that has an emergent theme: as it //sorta//, //kinda//, //not really// explores the question of what justice is, embodied by Kira or L.\\
+Emergent themes are usually a side-effect of good storytelling – though this is not something that should be relied upon as a guarantee and, further, the presence of an emergent theme isn't necessarily an indicator of good storytelling.\\
+An emergent theme is also a side-effect of //bad// storytelling, since a poorly-written plot might have a radically different theme from the intended theme.
+===== Analysis =====
+==== Exploration Versus Mentioning ====
+Exploring the them is not the same as mentioning it. Exploring involves raising the idea/question and then showing it play out in real time.
+Using the example above of Jurassic Park's //Zoo Mismanagement// theme: it shows the consequences of mismanagement, as well as the specific things that contribute to that mismanagement.\\
+To give specifics (though not too many!) on those contributing factors: the entire computer system is managed by one guy, who isn't paid enough; park employees don't know enough about the animals they're meant to take care of to actually take care of them; many of the enclosures are too small; they don't realize they can sedate dangerous animals before moving them.\\
+Now for consequences: the park's computer system is hijacked, resulting in a blackout; animals become sick; animals start escaping the second they have the opportunity to; a man was eaten by Raptors; many people died.
+In contrast, mentioning a theme generally means that you point at it and go “[[lb:androids sheep]]” and then calling it a day. You don't really show the specifics of what contributes to that theme, or show consequences...or really do anything.\\
+Viewers can also mis-identify themes just by assuming that exploring is the same thing as mentioning.