Subtext

Here’s an official definition of subtext: “any content of a creative work which is not announced explicitly by the characters or author, but is implicit or becomes something understood by the observer of the work. Subtext has been used historically to imply controversial subjects without drawing the attention, or wrath, of censors.”

In the old Seinfeld program, the four character often built a whole episode on discussing what the audience knew exactly what they were talking about, but they couldn’t say the words on TV. Or they chose not to because it was funnier to see the characters trying to walk around the words. For example, the masturbation contest, to see who go the longest without doing it. would end their abstaining first. Another where Elaine was reporting on her date with the dentist that he took “it” out. After two lines we all knew what she was talking about. Then there was the shrinkage episode.

In my favorite of newer films, Moonstruck, Johnny returns from Italy and three times all but leaves his luggage behind, telling everybody without telling them, he feels waited down by his past and wants to leave it behind but can’t quite really do it. The subtext lies in a person’s relationship to his or her past. How many of us would like to leave our past behind. And the symbolism of Ronnie’s artificial hand making a wounded animal that wanted to bite his hand off to get out of the trap he was in.

Subtext is where the story lives. How do you communicate this subtext? By the words, images, story line, conflicts, etc.

Next: return to details and try to show how they link the story line to the subtext.