Beyond the Blockbuster Slump: How Systems Thinking Can Revolutionize Storytelling

Do you ever find yourself watching a new movie and feeling... underwhelmed? Are you yearning for stories that truly move you, challenge your worldview, and offer deeper insights? In an era dominated by sprawling franchises and an endless stream of content, it often feels like truly good film has become a rarity. Where are the stories of substance, the ones that shake us down to our core and challenge our worldviews? Where are the narratives that help us to lead better lives, both at home and civically?

I believe the answer might lie not just in new ideas, but in a new way of thinking about stories – through the lens of systems thinking. This is precisely the kind of fresh perspective I explore on Mythos and Modalities , the podcast that dissects epic myths not just for their narratives, but for the intricate systems that drive them.

The Current Slump: A Symptom of Systemic Storytelling?

The perceived "slump" in modern cinema goes beyond personal taste. We see a prevalence of formulaic plots, a reliance on reboots and established intellectual properties, and characters who often lack genuine depth or transformative arcs. These narratives often fall short of challenging societal norms or provoking meaningful thought, leaving us with a sense of superficiality rather than profound impact. Could this be a symptom of an unconscious reliance on outdated or incomplete "story systems" within the industry?

What is Systems Thinking, for the Storyteller?

To understand how we can push beyond this, let's briefly define what we mean by "systems thinking" for the storyteller. Albert Rutherford describes systems thinking as a skillset that helps illuminate the roots of systemic problems by defining their causes and possible intervention points to guide desired outcomes. Donella Meadows also notes it as an "old way of seeing; yet somehow new" that "traffics in truths," or "traditional wisdom," "known at some level by everyone."

At its core, a system is defined as a set of interconnecting relationships that organizes a group of tangible and intangible elements into a coherent pattern that achieves some purpose or function over time.

For a screenwriter or storyteller, this translates directly to your craft:

• Elements are your characters, settings, significant objects, and plot points.

  
  

• Interconnecting relationships are all those prophecies, divine interventions, moral laws, and the complex cause-and-effect sequences that bind the narrative together.

  
  

• The purpose, or function, is the narrative's underlying goal, the world's internal logic, or the character's transformative arc.

  
  

Just like any system, stories have functional and dysfunctional systems that are subject to change and fluctuation. A script that feels "off" or "bad" is often a dysfunctional system.

How Systems Thinking Can Elevate Your Script (and the Entire Industry)

By applying a systems thinking lens, storytellers gain powerful tools:

• Crafting Coherent Worlds: Systems thinking allows writers to build believable, self-consistent story worlds. Understanding the rules, forces, and internal logic of your fictional universe prevents plot holes and enhances immersion, because the cosmos in an epic narrative is grounded in the lived world, presenting the cultural beliefs and practices that constitute a people’s world.

  
  

• Developing Deeper Characters: See characters not just as individuals, but as vital elements within a larger system. Their relationships, decisions, and roles create ripples throughout the narrative, impacting the whole.

  
  

• Unearthing Systemic Problems & Solutions in Plot: Recognizing that epic narratives are often about systemic reform  can revolutionize plotting. Systems thinking presents "eight archetypal problems and solutions common to all systems," which frame and drive plots in epic narratives. For instance:

  
  

  • The 'Shifting the Burden' archetype: Here, symptoms are addressed with quick, often temporary fixes, while the underlying, deeper problem is ignored, leading to a long-term dependency on that 'fix’. The 2024 Netflix film Damsel provides a striking example, where human sacrifice is a systemic pattern playing out in the narrative to repay an ancient debt, rather than addressing the core issue.

    
    

    By recognizing these systemic patterns, writers can move beyond superficial conflicts to address deeper, more universal human and societal challenges.

    
    

• Creating Stories of True Substance: When a writer understands the fundamental purpose of their narrative system, they can intentionally craft stories that truly challenge worldviews, explore profound human experiences, and offer insights for navigating real-world complexities. The purpose of epic narratives, after all, is to inspire the social evolution of systemic reform and adapt a people to changing social and environmental conditions by reshaping outmoded or harmful cultural beliefs and practices.

  
  

Mythos and Modalities: Your Blueprint for Better Storytelling

On Mythos and Modalities, I delve into these very concepts, exploring how ancient myths, from a systems perspective, act as intricate models of societies grappling with systemic challenges and seeking paths toward reform. We examine how these cultural traditions function as intricate social systems that determine the values shaping our lives.

It's our hope that this podcast, Mythos and Modalities, will offer you, future epic storytellers and curious minds, a fresh perspective into the writing of the genre. Because this isn't just academic theory; it’s a blueprint for the kinds of stories our country, and indeed our world, needs in order to move forward.

Ready to Revolutionize Your Storytelling?

If you're a screenwriter, an aspiring author, or simply someone who yearns for more impactful narratives, tune into Mythos and Modalities. Our premiere episode, "Unveiling the System in Myth" lays the foundational understanding of mythology and systems thinking, setting the stage for future discussions that will illuminate these powerful connections. You'll gain a fresh perspective, inviting you to look at narratives around you—in books, films, or daily life—through a new systems lens.