Plots

[Bandit]

Has anyone seen the movie Razor's Edge (preferably the 1946 version), recently enough, or are you familiar enough with it - to give a quick summary here, with focus on plot and theme? I think it would be neat to look at this one. I'm off to eat some birthday cake, but later I will make my best go at a plot summary ... if no one else has posted one.

(What I find at IMDB, though technically accurate in terms of the "plot" definition you posted, Bandit, is quite disappointing. Perhaps it is the theme I was seeking. Could we look at the relation between these two? At this point, I would hope at best to catch a glimpse of Razor's Edge as W. Somerset Maugham himself - meant for it to be. Isn't that what you were getting at, Bandit?)

andrew

thanks Andrew . yes. you have it correct. there is a difference in theme & plot. i am glad you want to discuss it that way & compare. that should be an eye opener for some who do not know.

for example the plot in the Bishops Wife is a wife who is being very neglected by her husband & she is unhappy but not making it known to him because she loves him & so she waits... He is too busy for her...so you have this angel who comes in & tries to bring them together before Christmas.

the theme there as i see it, would be Christmas & things to do with Christmas Time. there can be more than one theme also.
but plot is different. one plot, but you can have subplots.

i have not seen or read razors edge. here is what i got for the story & for the plot outline:
(as for the theme(s), i cant say.)
i kind of view plot outline as something different than plot. it gives a more general approach to describing the action invlolved. plot outline tends to give a theme as well as the plot in the part i underlined. IMO
is that also what you were emphasizing comparing plot & theme in this particular story?
if so, i think we are in agreement.

Tagline: The story of one man's search for himself.

Plot Outline: He had everything and wanted nothing. He learned that he had nothing and wanted everything. He saved the world and then it shattered. The path to enlightenment is as sharp and narrow as a razor's edge.

i think this is educational & rewarding, even if others do not see it that way.

we can look at other plots in many different things, stories, movies & texts if you would like, discuss the differences & i would enjoy that.
have a nice weekend.

 

[taijasi]

Wow! Thank you, Bandit. Imo, you have the hit the nail right on with this one! In context, what you have shared regarding Razor's Edge, even w/o reading/seeing it, is both accurate, and insightful, in keeping with the discussion. This, is what I was looking for.

IMDB does provide a slightly more detailed plot description, and the outline I think is just a way to get a quick snapshot of what goes on in the movie, novel, or story. Plot twists have always appealed to me, and I know there are folks who love this kind of movie or novel, as it keeps us guessing - whether as a mystery, as a suspense/thriller, or just as pure drama. Sometimes, it can grow thin, however, if the whole point of a novel is simply to befuddle, and no theme ever emerges. Detective novels in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes usually manage to avoid this. Today's movies - are all too often, nothing but a plot pretzel.

But a theme must be carefully woven into the story, and Razor's Edge is one in which I personally feel that the author has done so masterfully, and managed to evoke immense emotion, and for me - even a spiritual recognition and response. I really don't know that much about W. Somerset Maugham, but I do recall reading that he was involved with (consulted on) the bringing of his novel to the silver screen ... and somehow I just feel, certain, that the end result (in the case of the 1946 production) was quite true to his intent & inspiration. The later production, with Bill Murray, is one I need to see again.

Anyway, thanks for weaving my post into this thread!

andrew

 

[lunamoth]

that is how i see it. many different types of plots & discussed in different ways. in fiction the plot is not a true account, but it could be true to someones experience & they can relate from those events.
a text book would be interesting to examine the plot

A text book does not have a plot, although it is highly literal. A text book is typically laid out such that the first chapters introduce the subject being studied and subsequent chapters reflect increasing levels of complexity or more and more detailed explanation and examples. A history text might be different as it might be laid out chronologically, or perhaps the same set of events viewed from different perspectives (what did the Civil War mean to the Union soldiers, the Confederate soldiers, the slaves, the landowners, the women, the politicians, the native Americans...).

in science & in the the lab, i believe there is also something known as a plot- as in the layout.

Experiment design can go by various names and yes plot design is one of them, although not one I typically use except as it relates to field experiments (and I mean literally field experiments, as in planting large plots of plants for experimentation). Experimental design is critical for subsequent statistical analysis of the resulting data.

peace,
luna

 

[Bandit]

Wow! Thank you, Bandit. Imo, you have the hit the nail right on with this one! In context, what you have shared regarding Razor's Edge, even w/o reading/seeing it, is both accurate, and insightful, in keeping with the discussion. This, is what I was looking for.

IMDB does provide a slightly more detailed plot description, and the outline I think is just a way to get a quick snapshot of what goes on in the movie, novel, or story. Plot twists have always appealed to me, and I know there are folks who love this kind of movie or novel, as it keeps us guessing - whether as a mystery, as a suspense/thriller, or just as pure drama. Sometimes, it can grow thin, however, if the whole point of a novel is simply to befuddle, and no theme ever emerges. Detective novels in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes usually manage to avoid this. Today's movies - are all too often, nothing but a plot pretzel.

But a theme must be carefully woven into the story, and Razor's Edge is one in which I personally feel that the author has done so masterfully, and managed to evoke immense emotion, and for me - even a spiritual recognition and response. I really don't know that much about W. Somerset Maugham, but I do recall reading that he was involved with (consulted on) the bringing of his novel to the silver screen ... and somehow I just feel, certain, that the end result (in the case of the 1946 production) was quite true to his intent & inspiration. The later production, with Bill Murray, is one I need to see again.

Anyway, thanks for weaving my post into this thread!

andrew

you picked a good one there with razors edge. the theme is subtle & a lot of people may not catch on to it the first time.
twisted plots are interesting too. they seem to lean toward awkwardness, lack of trust or some kind of abuse. i think it takes a twisted mind to write it, but not always a twisted mind to unravel it.

weaving the theme(s) into a plot has to be difficult & require a lot of close attention.

 

[Bandit]

A text book does not have a plot, although it is highly literal. A text book is typically laid out such that the first chapters introduce the subject being studied and subsequent chapters reflect increasing levels of complexity or more and more detailed explanation and examples. A history text might be different as it might be laid out chronologically, or perhaps the same set of events viewed from different perspectives (what did the Civil War mean to the Union soldiers, the Confederate soldiers, the slaves, the landowners, the women, the politicians, the native Americans...).

peace,
luna

it is not real literature so i suppose you are correct. there is no literal plot. perhaps a text book 'has plot' or is plotted instead of having 'a plot'?. a lot of times each new chapter can build on a previous chapter, so that would be important to get the order correct in a text book. one other thing i noticed is the last chapter can be something very simple. i have often wondered why some teachers bounce around inside a text book & others go from the front to back.

what about journalism?

 

[Bandit]

To Kill a Mocking Bird

anyone want to tackle the plot &/or theme on this one?
everyone should know a little about it.
it has some real good lessons for us to learn.