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What is theme?

Theme = Value plus Cause

The theme is a controlling idea. It may be expressed in a single sentence describing how and why life undergoes change from one condition of existence at the beginning to another at the end.

Robert McKee defines the controlling idea as Value plus Cause. The Value expresses what changes. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, life-fulfilling love leads to death--love kills. The value change is from life to death. The Cause expresses what brought about the change in value. In Romeo and Juliet, the cause is the prejudice and the hate of an ancient family rivalry. That gives us the full, controlling idea: life-fulfilling love leads to death when we allow prejudice and hate to govern our actions.

Governing Theme

Brand Theme

It may take you a while to define your brand theme. You may have to flesh out other details, such as the characters and the plot before the governing theme begins to truly emerge. It is often easier to define the governing theme, or controlling idea, once most of the story is defined. Once you do articulate the theme, memorialize it often. Tack it on your computer display. Paint it on the walls. It will serve as your litmus test for future marketing efforts.

Negotiation Scenes from New York Stories

Compiling Strategies

Watch the above clip to fuel ideas about strategies that characters use to argue or get their way with other characters. Or take them from scenes in stories you like. Better yet, take them from real life. Compile a list of such strategies to use when you write your scenes.

Brainstorm Themes

Partner with several of your classmates to brainstorm possible themes for stories. You could start with possible themes for stories relating to suppressed defiance, open defiance and pull-away love scenes.

Reflect on theme in student broadcast ads

Watch a few of the student broadcast ads, and reflect on their themes.
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