Disciplines
Screenwriting
Abstract (300 words maximum)
In this study, I examine the ways in which Christopher Nolan developed the protagonist in Interstellar (2014). The protagonist, Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey, is the audience’s window into the world Nolan creates in the film. Though typical Christopher Nolan screenplay structure is more complicated than the average feature film, I argue that it is the character development of the protagonist that engages viewers and ultimately allows us to connect with the story. The central conflict that cooper desires to be the best dad he can be he is forced to abandon his family to save the world. That is crucial to the character to create such a complicated conflict for the protagonist which is an accurate depiction of a father with an impossible decision. Nolan’s typical approach is to challenge you to think outside of the box, but in this specific case, it has a grounded method to demonstrate the complexities of space and time.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - English
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Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Anna Weinstein
Included in
Analysis of Christopher Nolan's Interstellar
In this study, I examine the ways in which Christopher Nolan developed the protagonist in Interstellar (2014). The protagonist, Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey, is the audience’s window into the world Nolan creates in the film. Though typical Christopher Nolan screenplay structure is more complicated than the average feature film, I argue that it is the character development of the protagonist that engages viewers and ultimately allows us to connect with the story. The central conflict that cooper desires to be the best dad he can be he is forced to abandon his family to save the world. That is crucial to the character to create such a complicated conflict for the protagonist which is an accurate depiction of a father with an impossible decision. Nolan’s typical approach is to challenge you to think outside of the box, but in this specific case, it has a grounded method to demonstrate the complexities of space and time.