Variation

the thematic focus or topic of the Throughline being explored

Each of the four Throughlines: Objective Story, Subjective Story, Main Character, and Obstacle Character, have a thematic topic which is described by its Issue. The Objective Story Issue, for example, provides a value standard for judging the Objective Story Characters' efforts in a story. Whatever kinds of things are done by the Objective Story Characters in relation to the Story Goal can be said to be linked thematically by this particular item.