In his column, The Tribal Mind (SMH 10/6), David Dale noted that the most popular DVDs sold in Australia since 1997 generally follow one of two themes. “Every one of the top-selling romances uses this plotline: girl and boy fall in love but don’t realize it; they fight; they waste time with other people; they overcome obstacles; and they end up together.” The prime example is Titanic (1997), the second highest grossing movie ever in Australia, bringing in $57.7 million at the box office.
“Another popular plotline in the top 100, more suited to boys, goes like this: reluctant protagonist sets off to solve a problem, gets helps from a mentor and funny friends, confronts evil and returns with a solution and greater self-knowledge.” The prime example of this is The Lord of the Rings (Trilogy) (2001-2003) rating 6th, 8th and 4th with combined box office sales of $142.5 million.
The popularity, measured over 13 years, damps down any transitory marketing hype that may otherwise distort our collective DVD choices. So what does this tell us?
The themes undoubtedly say something meaningful to us – not just another good story but something much more personal – something that we identify with at a sub-conscious level. I think they tell us our own universal growth story. The first theme is about the attraction of opposites in relationship and the journey to acceptance of self through learning to value and honour those opposing qualities in another. The second theme defines the rite of passage to mature adulthood with its inevitable tests that require courage, determination and endurance to make a difference in the world that one deems worth making.
The first plotline defines the archetypal struggle to integrate and master the feminine aspects of our nature – our emotion-based, relationship qualities. The second plotline defines the archetypal struggle to integrate and master our will-based, action qualities. Perhaps the most attractive aspect of the movies is that they all reinforce the hope that we will ultimately succeed in our quests!
More generally, both themes are telling us that a life worth living is about who we become in the process. I think that the overwhelming popularity says that (at a subconscious level at least) most people are seeking to touch that story within themselves.
From our VitallyMe model we know there is a potential third plotline as well. That would be about discovering a big idealistic future reality and working through all the philosophical and logical arguments to bring the dream within reach – about creating a dream worth dedicating your life to.
Wow! What if you could combine all 3 plotlines in the same movie? That would have to appeal to almost everyone in one archetypal way or another. That would probably become the highest grossing movie ever…
And that would be Avatar at $115.6 million in Australia! Think about what appealed to you in that movie. The reluctant (disabled) protagonist? The ideal (fantasy) existence? The wise (trans-world) mentor? The romance of (extreme) opposites? The search for a (universal) solution, and growing self-knowledge through to mastery in a new world? The exciting struggle against overwhelming (and overdone) evil? The happy ending through the ultimate triumph over adversity? The integration of all that is good and true as the new level of existence is finally attained?
So, what pieces of that plotline are in your own life movie?
If you'd like more clarity on your own life movie themes, just revisit your own VitallyMe Report…
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