This is topic Subjective vs Objective vs Impact characters. Can someone help? in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.
Can someone explain the similarities and differences between the three because I'm not understanding it at all. I looked at a video about this in regards to the Dramatica Theory by its co-creator but it didn't help at all. Heck I'd be happy with on online source (hopefully not wikipedia). Could someone help or point me in the right direction?
Posted by extrinsic (Member # 8019) on :
I think the theory involved is a philosophical one, and thus the difficulty grasping the concepts thereof, partly caused by terminology drift. A subject character is an observable entity. An object character is an observing entity, An impact character is an entity who influences either or both object and subject characters.
A subject character is subject to interpretation; therefore, is a biased, perhaps untrustworthy, subjective character. An object character strives for trustworthy, unbiased, objective observations; therefore, is an objective character. An impact character, or influence character as has become more prevalent recently in narrative theory, is in a sense a subject character who shapes a central subject character's actions and reactions yet has a different agenda.
Villains and nemeses and obstacle-antagonist-type characters are in a sense influence characters, so are supporting characters who encourage proactive progress addressing a protagonist's problem wanting satisfaction. Where a subject character is often a protagonist, and an object character is often a participating narrator or involved character reporting the dramatic action from within a narrative's immediate settings: time, place, and situation.