How to Write Inner Darkness (Shadow Psychology)

No way could I put my shadow into my stories. I judge Stephen King harshly because of the number of male rapes he puts in so many of his stories. I couldn’t reveal my darkness that freely. 😉

Dexter might be the best example of such a character.

Great video. All characters should have a dark side because all people do. But remember, feelings and thoughts that are unacceptable to one person, may appear perfectly acceptable to another

#1 . Write about what scares you. Ok. But I'm not sure how to write about sharks, neexles and commitment but I'll try. 😂

Great dark character: Rick Sanchez from Rick & Morty (at least in the earlier seasons where they don’t explain literally everything). Turns out his biggest fear was happiness.

Another great dark character: Princess Bubblegum from Adventure Time. She’s nice and altruistic but also a totalitarian with a god complex.

I have to say that character with inner darkness that goes through change and find redemption is one of my favourite story arcs. I still hope that is how George RRR play out Jamie Lannister, I love Anakin Skywalker overcoming his shadow, I loved Doctor Who combating his shadows of loss and grief, and anger. This is really great video. I have story about character driven unconsciously driven by inner demons, battling them and turning them into good. But now I know I might need to add a little here and little there thanks to your video.

Ahhh right when I needed it!!!

Hey Brandon, could you make a video about how to nerf overpowered villains properly?

I've had a story brewing in my head to deal with my own shadow. Right now, I won't yet tell people the plot.

This video has some of the best writing advice I have ever heard.

I was tempted to say Alex in A Clockwork Orange, but his dark side, he wears it on his sleeve. It's his light side that he sort of hides. But otherwise, Salieri in Amadeus is excellent: seemingly he's a competent if mediocre musician, celebrated and popular, but he's consumed by envy and both adores and hates Mozart.

the best shadow story has got to be no country for old men...moss/chugur

The protagonist of my first novel (nearing the end of my second draft, a page one rewrite) is dealing with fear and how to get past it to do what needs to be done. He uses anger to silence his fear, which works in the short term. In the sequel (unwritten, but fully outlined), I plan to explore the consequences of his anger, and how he needs to deal with it and get past it to do things properly. Embracing his shadow is just one potential outcome of his alchemical journey.

One of my favorite movies is Little Shop of Horrors, the Rick Moranis one. And especially with the original ending. Seymour's shadow is deliberately coaxed out by the villain, and I especially love the original ending (possibly because more work was put into it, but I have other reasons relating to my own shadow) where he lets go just a little too late. Also I hope one day someone adapts The Wizard of Earthsea into a movie.

OMG this video just came out when our wanna-be-king president proudly announces his newest invention: FIGHT CLUB! Which means he sends all the old people who still admire him to leave hateful and troll comments on the opposing party's facebook posts...

Psychological concept of the shadow? I think of Persona 4 immediately (also other things like Omori, Celeste and Thunderbolts*)

One character I am writing is starting off feeling g defeated because he is not getting work, but when the work rolls in (over time) and he is being successful, he comes to realise how vulnerable and sometimes incorrect he can be. He needs to build himself back up again (before it is too late).

Stormlight Archive has many compelling characters with shadows. Kaladin is a compassionate leader tied down by self-loathing and utter hatred/bigotry towards nobles. When we first see Dalinar, he has mostly subdued his shadow (lust for battle and conquest), but it continues to be a problem. To face an existential threat to humanity, he needs to unite world leaders, who don't trust him because of his reputation as a brutal warlord and conqueror.

My favorite character with a dark side - Amos the Expanse - Miller the Expanse - Ragnar - The Vikings

I love watching your videos because they motivate me to write my own story—one that could be told in your future videos. 😂 By the way, is there any way for me to send you my story for you to read? I've written about 20 medium-sized chapters, but I’d love to get some advanced tips before finishing the book.

Thank goodness I’m anti society and all my protagonist are anarchists

On the other side of the coin, I love characters that are living the darker side due to a hidden motivation such as cowardice, but have a good in them that grows in the shadow until they become a genuine hero. Mutiny on the Bounty’s (1962) Mr. Christian or Blood Diamond’s Danny Archer are good examples

Very informative video, learned a lot.

Great stuff. Thankyou.

Thank you for the Writing advice.

“Get ready cuz today we’re doing something gay”

Just want to throw out there, Arkham Shadow is all about the shadow, handles it really well

Yay, Persona 5 mentioned! And if you liked that version of Jungian Psychology: The Video Game, then you'll probably also like Persona 4, since that one focuses less on the shadows of bad people and more on the shadows of the playable teenage characters.

DEFENS from the underrated classic Falling Down is a perfect example of a character with a dark side. The film masterfully get the audience to sympathize with his anger over petty, every day annoyances before slowly revealing that his shadow is terribly dark and destructive.

I like characters whose shadow is subtle; you know it's there because you see its influence but it's implied rather than stated outright.

Characters like Dexter, that find a loophole to avoid the worst consequences of shadow expression, just don't do it for me. They feel like a cop-out.

On the other hand, a character like Dr. Who must constantly keep his shadow in check, else the consequences would be catastrophic. His shadow leaks through in his quirky mannerisms, whimsical and chaotic plans, and occasional eruptions of rage, but he fights a never ending battle to contain his shadow that he can't afford to lose.

Dexter Morgan is my favorite. Not even a contest.

Samwise's dark side and the way he attacked and picked in Gullum showed how he was hiding how much hatred he had for what they were facing. He took his anger out in the only one he felt more powerful then. Once he was rejected by Frodo because of it, he integrated his shadow and was able to fight Shelob and the Orcs.

Shucks, fav character with a dark side? I know most will throw out an obvious choice, like Darth Vader or some Marvel super hero. I'm gonna go with Conrad from "Ordinary People".

You named my favorite character with a shadow already, Bruce Wayne. Alternatively there's Joker who is the character you get when the shadow is in full control.

Thank brother, another great video!

Ray Bradbury is the man.

Great video.

Uh-oh. You're not supposed to talk about.....oh never mind.

Wait maybe the Salt Men have a reputation as arrogant, violent raiders for a reason

I think this is one reason why psychopathic characters are often popular, usually in a very divisive way. They're living people's shadows, and do what people wish they could do. Personally I find these interesting to write, since they have a morality we're not all that familiar with. You can write them as incredibly villainous, if it's their shadow that leads them, or you can write them more redeemable, if they have a good shadow they struggle to connect with.

Brandon assuming correctly that everyone watching this channel ought to know the plot twist of Fight Club with no spoiler alert. 😅

I can’t believe you talked about fight club

Keyes Flowers for Algernon is a great novel about exploring inner darkness

The ending: Vader. Someone who wants a mentor and longs for approvals. Succumbs to the inner darkness, yet goodness still lingers inside and wants simple life.

I feel like you opened my eyes to my shadow! I can use this in my comic book scripts! I'm writing a superhero with a shadow personality: trans, bi, autistic, hippie, and geek, in an abusive jock family, Catholic, and inner-city high schools!

This isn’t just good writing advice. This is good psychology!

Damn. This speaks to the book I want to write. Thanks!

I love this new video. You should make writing advice videos about psychology. This is interesting. (THE NAME'S BRAYDEN BY THE WAY)

Will you perhaps return to a series where you focus on an existing literary, film or TV work? I really liked it when you broke each work down into small pieces and said what was good and bad about it and why.

Your films are good, but I feel as if I were at your lecture, you are the professor, I am the student, we are talking about literary theory. Meanwhile, a series where you focused entirely on just one film made me feel as if we were performing an autopsy on a still living organism. Maybe a bit cruel, but incomparably more fresh knowledge.

Bruce Banner and the Hulk were also inspired by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, in addition to Frankenstein’s Monster.