What are some examples of State of Being as an Issue?
The dictionary describes State of Being as:
State of Being: one's true nature, State of Being describes the actual nature of a character -- essence, one's true self, true self, essential nature, core being
Are there any examples of this Issue in play within a story (besides those found in the Example Storyforms)? Be sure to include the throughline (Overall Story, Main Character, Influence Character or Relationship Story) since the context will have an influence over how it is colored.
This one is tough for me because I see "State of Being" and all I think of is Hamlet's MC throughline ("To be or not to be...").
So, I'll give an example by making one up on the spot. This will be the Relationship throughline with the following settings:
- Domain: MANIPULATION (Psychology) -- Pretending to be Someone Else
- Concern: DEVELOPING A PLAN -- Outdoing Someone by Skillful Planning
- Issue: STATE OF BEING -- Seeing Someone's True Self
- Problem: SPECULATION -- Guessing Something
- Solution: PROJECTION -- Projecting the Present into the Future
- Symptom: DESIRE -- Being Desirous
- Response: ABILITY -- Being Someone Unable to do or be Something
- Catalyst: SENSE OF SELF -- Understanding One's True Nature
- Inhibitor: SUSPICION -- Being Suspect
- Benchmark: CHANGING ONE'S NATURE -- Changing into something else
RELATIONSHIP: A famous actor (Marcus) and his body double (Aaron) as unequal co-workers.
Tension exists between teen idol Marcus Black and his equally photogenic and talented body double, Aaron as they work together closely on the pilot for a new cable series, "Burbank Rules." Spending so much time together let's them see each others true colors. Marcus is pompous, self-serving and insecure but famous, whereas Aaron is equally talented and driven, but unknown and inexperienced. The nature of their top dog / underdog relationship is made starkly visible to all concerned as the two become more agitated as first the crew, then the media begin to call them, "The Marcus Twins." (Issue of State of Being).
This gives 'the Twins' the idea of switching identities during a one week break in the filming schedule, a la Prince and the Pauper (Domain of Manipulation, Pretending to be Someone Else). Things get complicated by the fact that Aaron wants a shot at replacing Marcus...permanently, which he thinks might be possible if he plays things right (Concern of Outdoing Someone by Skillful Planning). They both think the problem in their relationship is the desire for what the other has (Symptom of Being Desirous), but feel safe as they look at each others different skill sets (Response of Being someone unable to do or be something).
Sparks fly in their relationship when Marcus asserts his 'obviously' superior talent (Catalyst of Sense of Self), but are squelched when their behavior makes each suspect they are more alike than not (Inhibitor of Suspicion).
As their experiment moves forward, the nature of their relationship slowly changes from top dog / underdog to that of peers and possibly even friends (Benchmark of Changing into something else). It is only as someone begins guessing about the nature of their relationship and ruse does any real trouble come between them and threaten to break up their teamwork (Problem of Guessing Something). But if they look at where their relationship might go given its present track, both Marcus and Aaron are happy with the prospects (Solution of Projecting the present into the Future).
