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  1. Haskll1

    Haskll1 New Member

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    What are some good TV-shows to study bargaining mechanics?

    Discussion in 'Plot Development' started by Haskll1, Apr 11, 2019.

    Lookin' for some story arcs in TV shows or soap-operas revolving around bargaining and value. Might be even some Emmerdale or Estenders story arcs. In films, this seems to be particularly common in Law and "Witch hunt" character arcs.

    I could talk about this subject all day, and draw analogues between different plot structures, but I tend to lose track of things in such stories, where there's no really fixed "token" for the story to lean against. (as sort of opposite of what a macguffin is, in the sense that it's symbolical, and its personal value changes over time.)



    Example from "Bart Sells His Soul"
    "During a discussion Bart has with Milhouse, Bart claims there is no such thing as a soul, and for 5$,
    agrees to sells his soul to Milhouse in the form of a paper that say's "Bart's soul". Lisa tells Bart he will regret it, but he dismisses her fears. Soon, Bart begins to suspect he really did lose his soul after experiencing unusual phenomena, such as automatic doors refusing to open for him, and sets out to retrieve it. He tries to get it back from Milhouse, who refuses to sell it for less than 50$. He has a nightmare again and is taunted by Lisa, and goes to Milhouse to beg for his soul. However, Milhouse tells Bart that he traded the paper with the Comic Book Guy. The following morning, Comic Book Guy tells Bart that he no longer has the piece of paper but refuses to reveal to whom he sold it. Bart prays to God to for his soul, and suddenly the piece of paper drops from above. Bart discover Lisa bought it from him."
     
  2. Matt E

    Matt E Ruler of the planet Omicron Persei 8 Contributor

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    The South Park episode Margaritaville is really good. It gets into the value of debt, subprime margarita machines, and how confusing the economy gets at that level. Honorable mentions: Canada on Strike with the internet cash and Pinewood Derby with the space cash.

    Futurama episodes: Future Stock (the one with the 80s business guy), The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings (where fry sells his hands and the devil has to trade them back)

    Not television: I really like the book The Man Who Sold the Moon by Heinlein. Imagine buying and selling land on the moon without even going there.
     
  3. DPena

    DPena Member

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    Try watching Burn Notice. I can't remember any specifics but it always seemed like they were making a deal for something.
     
  4. Bobby Burrows

    Bobby Burrows Banned Contributor

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    Witch hunt you say?
    [​IMG]

    Does your witch turn out to be, say, not really a witch, but a time traveler?
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2019
  5. Bobby Burrows

    Bobby Burrows Banned Contributor

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    Bargaining examples on TV in fiction.
     
  6. Haskll1

    Haskll1 New Member

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    Proverbially speaking, that is. For example, someone is trying to incriminate someone for something, and might offer him a way out, but he refuses, and the stakes grow, and so on...
     

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