BUILDING EMOTIONS

Classic definitions of dramatic forms such as tragedy and comedy are formulations of dramatic affect. The function of drama is to arouse and purge emotions. The arousal of fear and pity with a catharsis of those two emotions is the purpose of tragedy. Comedy is fixed on the ridiculous aspects of human conduct, which cause laughter. Melodramatic construction based on a seemingly serious action excites the audience into feeling fear and pathos for the good people in the play, hatred for the evil, and laughter at sympathetic comic characters. Other forms, such as tragi-comedy, mix emotional responses. Build emotion into your scenario.

Emotion is constructed through logical increments in a cause and effect manner. Establishing mood and atmosphere creates possibilities. The initial dialogue and business must support the expectation of pending emotionally affective actions. Expectation, once satisfied, creates likelihood. A light-hearted and upbeat mood at the beginning of the play creates the possibility of comedy, a laugh with-in the first two minutes establishes the likelihood of a fun filled comic entertainment that allows the audience to relax and enjoy the show, anticipating more laughs to come. Emotions for all forms of drama or built in a similar manner. For help, check the outline for building emotion.

BUILDING EMOTION

1. RAISE EXPECTATIONT BY SETTING MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE
   1. Something could happen
   2. Something else could happen
   3. Raise the expectation: which possible outcome will happen?
2. RAISE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN
   1. This could happen or that could happen, but that seems most likely.
   2. This or that could be avoided. Will the obstacles be overcome?
3. CREATE SUSPENSE: CERTAIN EVENTS BECOME INEVITABLE
   1. Inevitable
   2. Unavoidable
   3. Must happen
   4. Happens

PROGRESSION OF FEAR

• Misgivings
• Apprehension
• Anxiety
• Dread
• Alarm
• Fear, either imagined or real

PROGRESSION TO AROUSE FEAR AND PITY

1. Possible death
   1. Misgivings: Through a sign such as a mole or a lump I am suspicious that I am dying of cancer
   2. Apprehension: My anticipation of cancer makes me dread having a medical checkup. I begin to fear having cancer.
2. Probable death
   1. Anxiety
      1. I have a check-up and find out that there is a possibility of cancer.
      2. Lab reports and further diagnosis confirm that I have cancer.
      3. I become anxious about when I'll die. I fear death.
   2. Compassion
      1. How can the pain be alleviated?
         1. Mercy killing
         2. Drugs
         3. Surgery
         4. Other means of eliminating the cancer
3. 3) Necessary death
   1. Dread: I begin to anticipate the event of my death.
   2. Alarm:
      1. I recognize the signs of death
      2. I come to peace with the reality of death
      3. Death comes to me.
      4. I die

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