Inner Drives – Syllabus

INNER DRIVES is laid out in a linear progression of information, each chapter building on the previous ones.

Writing Classes, Acting Classes, Directing Classes, Design Classes — instructors will find relevant examples, suggestions, and assignments for all the above in INNER DRIVES.

Section Two explains in detail each of the eight Centers and includes many facets that can be explored briefly or at length and in great detail.

Section Three offers examples and suggestions on how to use the Centers to craft character arcs and how to combine the Centers in various characters to enhance dramatic conflict and resolutions.

In both Sections Two and Three, the Examples in each Chapter afford many film clips and other media to view, attend, play.

The Exercises in each Chapter afford ‘homework’ assignments that can generate in-class discussions, verbal and written reports, enactments, writing assignments, etc.

The nature of the information is such that spreading the study of each Chapter out over at least two lessons will optimize your students’ ability to grasp the concepts, explore the examples, and apply the exercises.

Depending on the size of your class, the time spent in each session, the number of examples you present, and the nature of your application assignments, each Chapter could cover from one to four or more lessons.

Because INNER DRIVES explores human nature and story-telling, the applications of its principles, examples, and exercises are limitless.

Section Four is the reference material.

SUGGESTED LESSONS

[The lessons are bulleted.]

SECTION ONE – EXPLAINING THE INNER DRIVES

• INTRODUCTION (Introduction, Chapters 1 & 2)
THE CENTERS OF MOTIVATION IN PHYSIOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, AND PHILOSOPHY
What are the Inner Drives, how do they work, and how have they been used in story-telling in the past?

SUGGESTED MEDIA AIDS:
Film Clips of the eight scenes in the introduction. They will be referred back to at the conclusion of each relevant Center Chapter.

Photos, illustrations, excerpts from the examples given in Chapter One of Inner Drives in medicine, psychology, art, myths, etc.

SUGGESTED STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS:
Find examples and write report or bring example to show class.

SECTION TWO – THE CENTERS OF MOTIVATION

Each of the 8 Center Chapters contains these elements:

• A. THE THEORY
  • MOTIVATION
  • LOCATION
  • ENDOCRINE GLANDS & HORMONES
  • MYTHIC MEANING
  • ARCHETYPES
  • SYMBOLS
  • PLANETS & ASTROLOGICAL SIGNS
  • COLORS, SHAPES & MATERIALS
  • CLOTHING
  • STYLES OF SPEECH
  • PHYSICAL ACTIONS
  • FOIBLES, PHOBIAS, FOODS
  • WOUNDS & DEATHS
  • EXAMPLES
  CHARACTERS, FILMS
  MUSICALS, OPERA, BALLET & THEATRE
  BOOKS, GAMES, MUSIC
  HISTORICAL, CURRENT EVENTS 
• B. THE PRACTICE — USING THIS CENTER
  FOR YOUR CHARACTERS
  FOR YOURSELF
  ANALYZING THE EXERCISES 
• C. CONCLUSION

SUGGESTED MEDIA AIDS:
Film clips, photos, illustrations, excerpts from the examples. Field trips to events, performances, places.

SUGGESTED STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS:
Find examples, do exercises, write reports, write scenes, perform scenes, direct scenes, implement appropriate designs.

— THE CENTERS AND THEIR PRIMARY MOTIVATIONS —

• ROOT CENTER (Chapter 3)
Sheer Survival, connection to physical form, Earth Mother

• SACRAL CENTER (Chapter 4)
Sex, Fear, Money

• LOWER SOLAR PLEXUS CENTER (Chapter 5)
Personal Power, Greed, Individuality, Exclusivity

• ASPIRATIONAL SOLAR PLEXUS CENTER (Chapter 6)
Self-improvement, Brotherhood, Inclusivity

• HEART CENTER (Chapter 7)
Unconditional Love for all humanity, self-sacrifice

• THROAT CENTER (Chapter 8 )
Conscious Creativity, Communication

• AJNA CENTER (Chapter 9)
Balance and Integration of all the Centers

• CROWN CENTER (Chapter 10)
Connection with higher realms of Energy

SECTION THREE – MYTHIC STRUCTURE VIA THE INNER DRIVES

• THE SLIDING SCALE (Chapter 12)
Bad to good, dark to light

• PAIRS OF CENTERS (Chapter 13)
ROOT-CROWN, SACRAL-THROAT, SOLAR PLEXUS-HEART
[Each pair could cover one or more classes.]

• DRIVING THE ARCS (Chapter 14)
CENTER MASTERY OR STASIS
CENTER ASPIRATION
CENTER FALL AND (SOMETIMES) REDEMPTION
[Each concept could cover one or more classes.]

• ENSEMBLES (Chapter 15)

• MARILYNS, MOMS, & MUSES (Chapter 16)

• PETER PANS, PAPAS, & PYGMALIONS (Chapter 17)

• RAISING THE DRAGON (Chapter 18)
[This chapter analyzes three films in detail and offers a pattern for analyzing others. It could easily afford three or more lessons.]

Author:

Pamela Jaye Smith
MYTHWORKS
7231 Franklin Ave. #5
Hollywood, CA 90046

323-874-6042 phone/fax

pjs@pamelajayesmith.com
www.pamelajayesmith.com

Publisher:

Michael Wiese Productions
www.mwp.com