Aristotle believed that there were six primary elements that all plays or dramas possessed. Written more than two thousand years ago, his theory involving drama, also known as the Poetics, and his six elements of drama are plot, character, theme, diction, music, and spectacle (Hatcher 21). These elements can still be found in today’s entertainment world, as is demonstrated by two popular television shows—Sex and the City and Grey’s Anatomy.
In the Grey’s Anatomy season six episode titled “Sanctuary”, the show begins with some of its signature characteristics. Meredith Grey’s voice can be heard narrating a bit of her past and illustrating the background of the hospital, which is the setting of the show. Dialogues between the characters also provide information and explain the current situation for viewers who may have not seen the previous episode so that they may better understand the plot. The way the plot unfolds in “Sanctuary” and the incidents that occur are arranged in such an order that it creates an extreme level of drama for the audience. Meredith, for example, describes the hospital as being her sanctuary or safe place, which is proven to be ironic as the episode’s plot centers around an enraged man who goes around shooting surgeons and orderlies in the hospital. The contrast between the concept of a sanctuary and the events that take place makes the violence and danger that much more traumatic and unexpected. While the plot takes place, the characters and their different personalities and roles within Grey’s Anatomy are displayed; and this proves Aristotle’s theory that characters are secondary to a drama’s plot, and that the plot consists of characters in action. Through their actions, the characters show the audience which are the heroines, as well as their thought processes and personalities.
There are several themes within Grey’s Anatomy, most which involve love and romance, acceptance, friendship, jealousy, and loyalty. Within this particular episode, however, the main theme is made clear at the end with the confrontation of the shooter and Derek, the chief of surgeon. The shooter is grieving the death of his wife, who was previously in Derek’s care, and therefore blames Derek for her death altogether. He is seeking revenge, which is the ultimate theme of “Sanctuary”—what may spark revenge, and the ethical dilemmas that it ensues. The diction, or language, that is used is both effective in moving the plot along as well as describing key points of the episode, ideas, and episode history (Thomas 220). It also correlates with the setting, as the characters constantly use hospital lingo and medical terms.
Music is one of the most powerful elements of a drama, as it serves to create a certain mood that the writer intends the audience to feel. In “Sanctuary”, there is very little background music except for the beginning and end. When Derek is shot at the end of the episode, a slow song consisting of a light guitar and a soft female voice makes the scene that much more depressing—especially since Meredith, his wife, witnesses the whole event. The props and scenery also help to make the drama that much more realistic or impactful. There is a large amount of blood that is shown as the victims of the shooter are injured or killed, providing an element of shock for the viewers and highlighting the violence of the episode.
Throughout Grey’s Anatomy, the exposition is delivered through a series of dialogues, interactions between the characters, and visuals such as those used in the operating room during a patient’s surgery. By laying the foundation and background of what happened previously, audiences are allowed to understand the current actions and attitudes of the characters. The climate of “Sanctuary” is different from other episodes in that it involved murder and violence. The greatest climactic event also did not take place until the end of the episode, which provided a large amount of buildup, frustration, and suspense. The suspense was escalated by the placement of commercials as well. Each commercial would take place right after a shocking event, such as an orderly being shot in the head or the shooter breaking into a room and shooting a surgeon. This is different from other shows such as comedies, as audiences are left with an intense feeling of suspense and shock with every commercial break. The characters of “Sanctuary” include a villain who is the shooter, Meredith who is the main character or heroine, and Christina who provides comic relief. The first incident is technically when Meredith reveals to Christina that she is pregnant, but has not yet told Derek; and this makes his shooting at the end of the episode that much more emotional. There is a sense of resolution when the shooter finally finds Derek, who was his initial target. Still, the episode ends directly afterwards and audiences are left with a cliff-hanger. “Sanctuary” is therefore left inconclusive and the viewers are required to watch the next episode if they wish to find out what happens to the shooter and whether or not Derek and the other injured people survive.
Unlike Grey’s Anatomy, Sex and the City focuses more on comedy and the life of four women more so than death and emotionally taxing drama. In an episode from season six called “Let There Be Light”, the plot focuses on Carrie and the pursuit of a new man that she refers to as “the Russian”. Meanwhile, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha all experience their own personal trials. As any fan of the show knows, Carrie is a witty, quirky, hopeless romantic; and her actions are all indicative of her character. Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda’s actions all underline their individual personalities as well. The theme of this episode is love, both old and new. It also touches on the complications of trust and how, although it can be difficult to trust someone, it is crucial if one hopes for their relationship to flourish. The language used in this episode is particularly effective in terms of portraying character personalities and the plot. When Carrie attempts to learn Russian, for example, it is clear that she is enthusiastic about her new relationship with the Russian and wishes to impress him. In addition, when Aleksandr—the Russian—speaks, it is evident that he is highly intelligent, comes from a high social class, and is very artistic. In terms of the music that is used, the songs in this episode are without lyrics and serve to emphasize the mood of that particular point in the plot. If a scene is comical, then the music is upbeat and lighthearted; and if a scene is meaningful, then the music is slower with more sentimental tones. The visuals also support the scenes and the characters lives. Carrie is renowned for her trendy and often eccentric wardrobe, which is constantly on display; and the view of New York that is shown during a scene in Aleksandr’s apartment solidifies his prestigious economic and social status.
The exposition in “Let There Be Light” is provided by the various dialogues between the characters. In Sex and the City, the conversations that take place amongst the four main characters are the main tool that the writers use to convey themes, messages, and attitudes to the viewers. Each character has her own personal climax within the episode, which is the same for other episodes of the series. At the beginning of the episode, Carrie narrates the current situation of each woman; and as the stories progress, each character experiences her own climax and finds her own resolution. The commercial breaks tend to take place at the end of a significant theme. Although this is similar to shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, the viewers are not left in as much suspense. The characters in this episode include Carrie, the main character, Aleksandr her love interest, and her three friends as supporting roles. While Carrie is the primary focus, the other characters and their actions provide her with purpose and form the episode’s plot. The initial incident is Carrie and the Russian, and whether or not she should pursue a relationship with him. This is communicated through a series of interactions between them, as well as Carrie finding out that he has had many lovers in the past—a fact that she is unsure she can handle. Towards the end, the two characters resolve any doubt about a potential relationship with Aleksandr assuring Carrie that he is fond of her and she was not merely one of many women. Carrie’s emotional conflict is therefore resolved and her initial worry is turned around, becoming a positive situation. According to Aristotle, this is a key to good script writing (Hiltunen 15). Although the individual conflicts of each woman is resolved by the end of the episode, Carrie and the Russian’s relationship is left on a sort of cliff-hanger. Audiences have to continue watching in order to discover whether or not their relationship with grow.
Grey’s Anatomy and Sex and the City both contain the six elements of drama that Aristotle outlined. Regardless of when his theories were first recorded, they are still relevant and applicable to today’s television shows.
Works Cited
Hatcher, Jeffrey. The Art & Craft of Playwriting. Cincinnati: Story Press, 2000.
Hiltunen, Ari. Aristotle in Hollywood: The Anatomy of Successful Storytelling. Bristol: Intellect Books, 2002.
Thomas, James Michael. Script Analysis for Actors, Directors, and Designers. Oxford: Focal Press, 2005.
