Moneyball: A case study in archetypal plot construction - Rags to Riches

Rags to riches is about going from pure potential and raw talent to competence in the world. An overlooked and neglected hero who gets a little fairy godmother or genie magic that propels them to the top, only to lose it when the clock strikes midnight. They then have to climb back up without the help of supernatural aid, and when they finally reach the top, they have learned the lessons necessary to become competent rulers.
Moneyball is a modern rendition of this archetypal plot. Here we go into an an analysis of how screenwriters Aaron Sorkin and Steven Zaillian, along with Director Bennett Miller order the events of the movie to follow the archetypal story.
If you would like to join me on this journey through the seven basic plots, the lecture videos are linked below:
What is Rags to Riches? • What is the meaning of...
Introduction to the Seven Basic Plots: • On Writing - The Seven...
Rags to Riches (Lecture): • The Seven Basic Plots:...
Overcoming the Monster Part I: • On Writing- The Seven ...
Overcoming the Monster Part II: • On Writing -The Seven ...
Voyage and Return Part I: • On Writing - The Seven...
Voyage and Return Part II: • On Writing - The Seven...
Voyage and Return Part III: • On Writing - The Seven...
Voyage and Return Part IV: • On Writing - The Seven...
I was inspired by @youthnation1 and @PaulVanderKlay and @JonathanPageau in making these videos

[@PaulVanderKlay]

Cool!

[@darioswatchclub8]

Another ONE! THANK YOU! I am still in Rags to Riches....But I think I am getting to the End of the Cycle... True Worth Revealed after the Depths of Despari and Climbing back up Again. 13:12 Epic! He bought the Genie!

[@justinsmorningcoffee]

Haha thanks again Dario, I’m so glad you’re enjoying these.

[@stevenmathews7621]

the fairy godmother bit / being shown where your potential could lead / illegitimate power gain made me think of (think i've got this wrong, but think there's something there) how a substance addiction forms being shown a blissful (illegitimate) way of seeing the world, then instead of trying to get to that place again via legitimate means, the addict keeps trying to get there again and again via those same original illigitimate means Why I think I've got it wrong is that it's referred to as "chasing the dragon". More like the monster plot

[@justinsmorningcoffee]

Hmmm very interesting. Yes, illegitimate means. I'll have to think about where that fits in to these narratives

[@stevenmathews7621]

the neglected potential v. illegitimate authority start bit made me think about how both of these can be personalities in yourself (possibly from somewhere, but internalised either way) e.g i want to make something that changes the world / leave a mark v. i need to progress in my current occupation 'cause bills need to be paid

[@justinsmorningcoffee]

Yeah for sure! One way of looking at these narratives is that the characters can represent sub-personalities - each pulling in a different direction. I didn’t go into Art Howe in this video, but he represents the “conservative” side of Billy, we might say, the one that wants to play it safe by doing the traditional baseball thing “so that I can explain myself in job interviews next year.”

[@stevenmathews7621]

@@justinsmorningcoffee Right, nice

[@PaulVanderKlay]

Evil NY Yankees? the team of my childhood?! Oh no... :)

[@justinsmorningcoffee]

Haha Well are antagonistic forces “evil”?

[@justinsmorningcoffee]

there is a sense that they take the “potential” of the lower teams by signing their players once they clear arbitration …. But perhaps a more charitable reading would be that the cities of New York and Boston represent “royalty”. The “dancing with royalty” scene is the flashback of when he gets drafted by the Mets. And of course the final recognition of his “worthiness” is the offer from Boston: royal in the sense of being connected to history, and playing in a “true” baseball cathedral.