In K.M. Weiland's series on character arc, she defines a Flat Arc as one where the protagonist begins the story believing some overriding truth, and the world around them is defined by the opposing lie. The character, by remaining steadfast, incites change in the world, leading those around him to believe the truth.
This process can begin in one of two places. Either the protagonist starts out in a world that believes the truth, and then the world comes under the threat of a lie, or the protagonist starts out in a world defined by the lie.
The flat arc protagonist needs to meet enormous opposition for this dynamic to be credible. They need to encounter genuine temptation to abandon the truth for the lie.
If they are protecting their world from the threat of a lie, then either that world must be destroyed by Turning Point One (only to be rebuilt in the Denouement), or the protagonist must leave the world of truth to defend it against the lie. Either way, the protagonist goes through the bulk of the story in a world defined by the lie, and there will be plenty of opportunities to present opposition. If the protagonist's world already represents the lie, then they are already in a place fraught with temptation.
Stories of rebellion against tyranny make great flat arc stories (Braveheart). So do stories of escape from oppression (Papillon), and superhero stories (Batman Begins). None of these have to be flat arc stories, but they lend themselves to it easily.
When using a flat arc, it's helpful to have one or more of your supporting characters represent the world. Typically, this would be the antagonist: every crook in a Batman story represents the avarice and injustice of Gotham City.
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| Say what you will about the crazy bastard, but Mel Gibson could act his way out of a Sherman tank. |
But it doesn't have to be that way. A sidekick or love interest could just as easily represent the world. In Braveheart, William Wallace's commitment to freedom incites change in contagonist Robert the Bruce. The Bruce represents the Scottish nobility, who are defined by the lie that Scotland should be subservient to England.
A flat arc makes a Story Argument similar to the positive arc's. It argues that the truth the protagonist believes is in fact a positive thing. The difference is that in a flat arc, the story argument becomes an indictment of society.
In a story, the protagonist represents the will of the audience. Protagonists are us as we would like to see ourselves, and they stand for our motivations and goals. In a positive arc, the story argument pertains to an individual, It argues that we, as individuals, can change and improve ourselves. It argues that we can and should change our attitudes in certain ways.
A flat arc argues that society as a whole is capable of change, but the admonition that it should change is one you should make carefully. In flat arcs, the protagonist can function more as a mentor to the audience, and the flawed world around the protagonist can be viewed as representing the audience.
If you're not careful, audiences can feel alienated by this. More often than not, audiences still identify with the protagonist--after all we like to think of ourselves as soldiers fighting for the truth in a corrupt world. But not everyone will view it that way, especially if your chosen lie is a belief they value.
For example, a story about religious oppression can be a tenuous thing. If you have a flat arc protagonist that is an atheist, and fights for their freedom to believe what they believe, then you are using a flat arc to argue that society would be better off without organized religion. And some people will take issue with that.
That's a rather extreme example, and more often than not, flat arc stories feature protagonists defined by more universal truths like Justice or Freedom. But you should not say the world is unjust or tyrannical lightly. Stories are powerful, and they last forever, especially in the digital age. If you're using a flat arc, be prepared to stand by the argument it makes.
Next, we'll look at Negative Character Arc
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