Backstory
A backstory, background story, or background is a set of events invented for a plot, preceding and leading up to that plot. In acting, it is the history of the character before the drama begins, and is created during the actor's preparation.[1][2]
Usage
As a
.Backstories are usually revealed, partially or in full, chronologically or otherwise, as the main narrative unfolds. However, a story creator may also create portions of a backstory or even an entire backstory that is solely for their own use.[3]
Backstory may be revealed by various means, including
Recollection
Orson Scott Card observed that "If it's a memory the character could have called to mind at any point, having her think about it just in time to make a key decision may seem like an implausible coincidence . . . " Furthermore, "If the memory is going to prompt a present decision, then the memory in turn must have been prompted by a recent event."[4]
In a shared universe more than one author may shape the same backstory. The later creation of a backstory that conflicts with a previously written main story may require the adjustment device known as retroactive continuity, informally known as "retcon".
Acting
Actors may create their own backstories for characters, going beyond the sometimes meager information in a script. Filling in details helps an actor interpret the script and create fully imagined characters.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Backstory at Merriam Webster online
- ^ Backstory at Dictionary.com
- ^ Backstory: The Importance of What Isn't Told
- ISBN 0-89879-307-6.
- ISBN 9781350012783. Retrieved 26 November 2018.