Tale of Two Boyfriends
This project provides a platform for creating interactive narratives with dramatically meaningful variations for the interactor to explore. The story pattern of W2P (a woman an 2 partners) is derived from an essay by Janet H. Murray “A Tale of Two Boyfriends: A Literary Abstraction Strategy for Creating Meaningful Character Variation“[1] which privileges female agency within the classic western narrative format of a romantic triangle between one woman and two men. The patterns divides male characters into Boyfriends of ObliGation (BOGs) and Boyfriends of Desire (BODs). Using this platform, authors can define a BOG and a BOD character based on multiple variants. The system then generates a set of possible plot events, similar to the events in Vladimir Propp’s classic abstraction of fairytales[2], in the form of story-cards.
Read Janet H. Murray's article “A Tale of Two Boyfriends”BOG
Boyfriend of Obligation
Moral Quality:
Attractiveness:
Era:
Status/Occupation:
Skin Color:
Gender:
BOD
Boyfriend of Desire
Moral Quality:
Attractiveness:
Era:
Status/Occupation:
Skin Color:
Gender:
Step One. Character Design
Use the above options to design two main characters. Character appearance will be generated based on your selection. Click Generate Character button after you finish.
BOG
BOD
Step Two. Confirm Your Character
Congratulations! You have successfully designed the appearance of your characters. Now it's time to add some attributes and personalities to your character. Click Set Attributes button to continue.
Based on your setting: Moral quality = -3
BOG
| Authority: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manipulative | Rule-based | Conformist | Dictatorial | Menacing |
| Potency: | ||||
| Impotent | Withholding | Controlling | Despotic | Violating |
| Patriarchal Privilege: | ||||
| Exploitative | Snobbish | Unfaithful | Abusive | Tyrannical |
| Attachment: | ||||
| Cloying | Cool | Objectifying | Jealous | Sadistic |
| Authority: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communitarian | Rational | Legal | Physical | Financial |
| Potency in: | ||||
| Sexuality | Knowledge | Legal System | Fighting | Wealth |
| Patriarchal: | ||||
| Pacifist | Antiegalitarian | Punishment | Macho Gallantry | Sheltering |
| Attachment: | ||||
| Supportive | Encouraging | Impersonal | Amorous | Indulgent |
Based on your setting: Moral quality = -3
BOD
| Authority: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manipulative | Rule-based | Conformist | Dictatorial | Menacing |
| Potency: | ||||
| Impotent | Withholding | Controlling | Despotic | Violating |
| Patriarchal Privilege: | ||||
| Exploitative | Snobbish | Unfaithful | Abusive | Tyrannical |
| Attachment: | ||||
| Cloying | Cool | Objectifying | Jealous | Sadistic |
| Authority: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communitarian | Rational | Legal | Physical | Financial |
| Potency in: | ||||
| Sexuality | Knowledge | Legal System | Fighting | Wealth |
| Patriarchal: | ||||
| Pacifist | Egalitarian | Punishment | Macho Gallantry | Sheltering |
| Attachment: | ||||
| Supportive | Encouraging | Impersonal | Amorous | Indulgent |
Step Three. Choose Character Attributes
Click to choose attributes from multiple columns for BOG and BOD, such as a comformist who is unfaithful but highly jealous. Story cards will be generated based on the attributes assigned to each character. Click Generate Story Cards button after you finish.
The story cards below are generated from the character attributes you defined at the Step three.
Proppian Morphemes
Openning Situation
Click to choose story card for this section
Disruption
Click to choose story card for this section
Crisis / Constraint
Click to choose story card for this section
Choices
Click to choose story card for this section
Consequences
Click to choose story card for this section
Temptation
BOD Proposal
BOG Proposal
Love at First Sight
BOG's Addictiveness>0
Rescue
From Rescuing Attr. of BOD/G
Break Up
Seduction
From Sexuality Attr. of BOG
Happy with BOD
Happy with BOG
Suspicion of BOG
From Attr. Unfaithful
Quarrel with BOG
Quarrel with BOD
Moral Choice
Happy Alone
Moral Quality of BOG/D is negative
Alone
From Violent Attr. of BOG
Fear
Threat
From Violent Attr. of BOG
Revenge
From Violent Attr. of BOG
Fear of Poverty
From Attr. Snobbish
Tempt. by Wealth
From Financial Attr. of BOG/D
Violence
From Violent Attr. of BOG/D
Duel
Step Four. Create Five Part Structure for Your Story
Click the story cards to fill your five part structure. Click the button Done after you finish.
BOG
Moral Quality: -5
Attractiveness: -5
Occupation: teacher
Attributes:snobbish
BOD
Moral Quality: -5
Attractiveness: -5
Occupation: teacher
Attributes:snobbish
Openning Situation
Disruption
Crisis / Constraint
Choices
Consequence
Build This Story in Twine
Here is your story settings! You can right click to download the images of your five part structure and use them in Twine to create an interactive story. If you want to redesign your character and plot, hit Start Over button.