Dramatic element with three types: character vs. character, vs. nature/circumstance, or vs. self. Propels plot and enables character development.
Technical Details
Classical dramaturgy distinguishes three basic types: Man vs. Man (interpersonal conflict), Man vs. Nature/Circumstances (external conflict), and Man vs. Himself (internal conflict). Robert McKee's "Story" analysis (1997) defines 15 specific conflict levels, from the micro-level (beat-to-beat conflicts) to the macro-level (genre-defining central conflict). Screenwriters work with the "Conflict Escalation Scale" from 1-10, with intensity levels 7-8 typically marking the second turning point.
History & Development
Aristotle established the agon as the fundamental dramatic conflict in "Poetics" in 335 BC. In 1915, D.W. Griffith introduced cinematic parallel editing for visual conflict amplification with "The Birth of a Nation." Billy Wilder codified the principle "Drama is normality plus conflict" for Hollywood productions in 1940. The Nouvelle Vague around 1960 broke with linear conflict structures in favor of atmospheric tension arcs. Modern streaming formats have developed multi-arc conflicts since 2010 for episodic long-term engagement.
Practical Application in Film
"Casablanca" (1942) exemplifies the three-layered conflict structure: Rick vs. Germans (external), Rick vs. Ilsa (interpersonal), Rick vs. his own past (internal). "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015) condenses all conflict levels into a 110-minute chase with a 7-minute cycle of escalation stages. Horror films utilize the "False Ending" conflict: apparent resolution at minute 85, final confrontation until minute 95. Documentaries construct conflicts through oppositional interview editing and chronological escalation.
Comparison & Alternatives
Conflict differs from mere tension by its structural necessity for plot resolution. An obstacle remains static, while conflict drives dynamic character development. Crisis denotes the conflict's peak, climax its resolution. Minimalist approaches like Dogme 95 replace plot conflicts with character-based emotional dissonances. Interactive storytelling in video games transfers conflict decisions directly to recipients, creating multiple resolution paths.