StoryAlity #177 – 100 Narrative Metaphors for 100 Personal Problems

So… – inspired by this little video:

Schrader on screenwriting (1 minute)

…Here is, a

Table of 100 Narrative Metaphors, for 100 Personal Problems !

(or:

`Table of 100 Personal Problems & related Metaphors – & Example Films on the same Theme/Topic’)

[& see scroll-bar at bottom of Table, if the rightmost Table-column is currently only partly-visible]

#	Random Personal Problem	Possible Cinematic/Narrative Metaphor for this Problem	`Metaphorical’ Occupation	Example Movie
1	Self-image	Mirror Reflections	Photographer	“Black Swan” (2010)
2	Can’t tell parents I’m gay	Hidden Letters	Novelist	“Brokeback Mountain” (2005)
3	Minority anger	Rising Storm	Activist	“Do the Right Thing” (1989)
4	Anxiety and panic attacks	Racing Heartbeats	Athlete	“Silver Linings Playbook” (2012)
5	Struggling with body image and eating disorders	Distorted Reflections	Fashion Model	“To the Bone” (2017)
6	Lack of self-confidence or low self-esteem	Broken Wings	Musician	“Whiplash” (2014)
7	Difficulty in maintaining healthy relationships	Fading Footprints	Travel Guide	“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)
8	Substance abuse or addiction issues	Drowning Waves	Fisherman	“Requiem for a Dream” (2000)
9	Unresolved trauma or past experiences affecting daily life	Echoing Memories	Archivist	“Memento” (2000)
10	Career or job dissatisfaction	Lost Compass	Explorer	“Office Space” (1999)
11	Financial stress and debt management	Tangled Strings	Musician	“The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006)
12	Grief and loss after the death of a loved one	Fading Shadows	Funeral Director	“Manchester by the Sea” (2016)
13	Difficulty in setting and achieving personal goals	Elusive Horizons	Mountaineer	“127 Hours” (2010)
14	Loneliness and social isolation	Empty Rooms	Hotel Custodian	“Lost in Translation” (2003)
15	Procrastination and time management issues	Ticking Clocks	Watchmaker	“Dead Poets Society” (1989)
16	Perfectionism and fear of failure	Shattered Mirrors	Glassblower	“Black Swan” (2010)
17	Trust issues and fear of intimacy	Locked Gates	Locksmith	“Eyes Wide Shut” (1999)
18	Cultural or identity conflicts	Crossroads	Travel Guide	“The Namesake” (2006)
19	Balancing personal life with professional responsibilities	Juggling Act	Circus Performer	“The Greatest Showman” (2017)
20	Unhealthy coping mechanisms (e.g. self-harm	excessive alcohol consumption)	Poisoned Well	“Leaving Las Vegas” (1995)
21	Fear of public speaking	Silent Stage	Mime Artist	“The King’s Speech” (2010)
22	Parenting challenges	Broken Cradle	Childcare Provider	“Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979)
23	Relationship conflicts	Colliding Worlds	Mediator	“Blue Valentine” (2010)
24	Feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities	Sinking Sands	Lifeguard	“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (2013)
25	Imposter syndrome	Masked Identity	Actor	“Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” (2014)
26	Insecurity about intelligence or abilities	Fractured Reflections	Sculptor	“Good Will Hunting” (1997)
27	Fear of rejection or abandonment	Fading Footsteps	Pet Tracker	“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)
28	Chronic illness or health issues	Shadowed Health	Herbalist	“The Fault in Our Stars” (2014)
29	Aging and mortality concerns	Ticking Clocks	Clockmaker	“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008)
30	Feeling stuck or lacking direction in life	Endless Maze	Maze Designer	“The Maze Runner” (2014)
31	Jealousy or envy	Green-Eyed Monster	Gardener	“The Great Gatsby” (2013)
32	Boundary-setting difficulties	Blurred Lines	Surveyor	“No Country for Old Men” (2007)
33	Emotional or psychological abuse	Broken Chains	Blacksmith	“Sleeping with the Enemy” (1991)
34	Work-life imbalance	Scales of Time	Librarian	“Up in the Air” (2009)
35	Cultural assimilation challenges	Melting Pot	Chef	“The Hundred-Foot Journey” (2014)
36	Fear of change or uncertainty	Closed Doors	Locksmith	“The Truman Show” (1998)
37	Trusting others after betrayal	Mended Hearts	Cardiologist	“Gone Girl” (2014)
38	Feeling disconnected from one’s cultural or ethnic community	Fading Traditions	Historian	“Coco” (2017)
39	Fear of failure in academic or professional pursuits	Slippery Slope	Skier	“The Social Network” (2010)
40	Perceived discrimination or bias	Cracked Mirror	Glassmaker	“Hidden Figures” (2016)
41	Postpartum depression	Shrouded Sunshine	Midwife	“Tully” (2018)
42	Social anxiety	Invisible Spotlight	Stagehand	“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)
43	Fear of flying or travel-related anxiety	Grounded Wings	Air Traffic Controller	“Flight” (2012)
44	Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)	Compulsive Patterns	Seamstress	“As Good as It Gets” (1997)
45	Sleep disorders or insomnia	Restless Nights	Hotel Night Auditor	“Insomnia” (2002)
46	Dealing with a difficult or toxic family member	Tangled Roots	Arborist	“August: Osage County” (2013)
47	Adjusting to a new culture or environment	Foreign Soil	Anthropologist	“Lost in Translation” (2003)
48	Recovering from a breakup or divorce	Broken Vows	Marriage Counselor	“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)
49	Chronic pain management	Lingering Shadows	Massage Therapist	“The Sessions” (2012)
50	Feeling isolated as a caregiver	Silent Burden	Librarian	“Still Alice” (2014)
51	Fear of public judgment or criticism	Watchful Eyes	Security Guard	“Nightcrawler” (2014)
52	Sexual dysfunction or intimacy issues	Locked Desires	Sex Therapist	“Shame” (2011)
53	Resentment or unresolved conflicts in friendships	Crumbling Bridges	Bridge Engineer	“The Bridges of Madison County” (1995)
54	Survivor’s guilt	Haunted Memories	Ghost Tour Guide	“The Sixth Sense” (1999)
55	Balancing academic pressures and extracurricular activities	Juggling Books	School Librarian	“The Spectacular Now” (2013)
56	Identity crisis or questioning one’s purpose	Shattered Reflections	Glassblower	“American Beauty” (1999)
57	Coping with a natural disaster or traumatic event	Broken Landscapes	Landscape Architect	“The Impossible” (2012)
58	Fear of commitment or long-term relationships	Untied Knots	Wedding Planner	“The Wedding Planner” (2001)
59	Coping with infertility or difficulties conceiving	Empty Cradle	Fertility Specialist	“Juno” (2007)
60	Feeling inadequate compared to others	Shadowed Comparisons	Lighting Designer	“Whiplash” (2014)
61	Fear of failure in romantic relationships	Shattered Hearts	Cardiologist	“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004)
62	Trust issues with authority figures	Tarnished Badges	Private Investigator	“Chinatown” (1974)
63	Emotional eating or food addiction	Consumed Temptations	Chef	“Chef” (2014)
64	Impatience and difficulty with delayed gratification	Ticking Clocks	Clockmaker	“Groundhog Day” (1993)
65	Fear of driving or car accidents	Roadblock Fears	Traffic Engineer	“Crash” (2004)
66	Social exclusion or feeling like an outsider	Lonely Spectator	Theater Usher	“Her” (2013)
67	Resolving childhood issues or trauma	Broken Innocence	Child Therapist	“Room” (2015)
68	Feeling unfulfilled or lacking purpose in work	Fading Passion	Artist	“La La Land” (2016)
69	Dealing with a toxic or abusive workplace	Poisoned Environment	Environmental Scientist	“Erin Brockovich” (2000)
70	Balancing personal and educational demands	Juggling Priorities	School Principal	“Dead Poets Society” (1989)
71	Fear of being vulnerable or emotionally open	Shielded Hearts	Blacksmith	“Silver Linings Playbook” (2012)
72	Managing anger and impulsivity	Burning Flames	Firefighter	“Anger Management” (2003)
73	Coping with the loss of a pet	Silent Pawprints	Veterinarian	“Marley & Me” (2008)
74	Feeling trapped in a toxic friendship	Suffocating Bonds	Relationship Counselor	“The Break-Up” (2006)
75	Resolving conflicts within a blended family	Mixing Shadows	Painter	“Stepmom” (1998)
76	Fear of aging or getting older	Fading Reflections	Photographer	“Boyhood” (2014)
77	Navigating the challenges of long-distance relationships	Distant Connections	Telecommunications Specialist	“Like Crazy” (2011)
78	Overcoming self-sabotaging behaviors	Breaking Chains	Locksmith	“Inside Out” (2015)
79	Rebuilding trust after infidelity	Mending Hearts	Surgeon	“Closer” (2004)
80	Fear of failure in creative pursuits	Dying Dreams	Music Composer	“La La Land” (2016)
81	Managing expectations and perfectionism in parenting	Balancing Acts	Circus Performer	“The Greatest Showman” (2017)
82	Resolving sibling rivalries and conflicts	Fractured Bonds	Family Therapist	“The Royal Tenenbaums” (2001)
83	Overcoming a fear of commitment	Unlocked Hearts	Wedding Planner	“The Five-Year Engagement” (2012)
84	Coping with workplace bullying or harassment	Toxic Shadows	Occupational Health and Safety Officer	“The Devil Wears Prada” (2006)
85	Feeling misunderstood or not heard in relationships	Silent Echoes	Sign Language Interpreter	“The Shape of Water” (2017)
86	Financial dependence or struggles	Broken Chains	Accountant	“The Big Short” (2015)
87	Fear of missing out (FOMO) and social comparison	Fading Vibrancy	Art Restorer	“The Great Gatsby” (2013)
88	Resolving conflicts between personal values and societal expectations	Torn Allegiances	Mediator	“A Few Good Men” (1992)
89	Overcoming a fear of rejection in dating	Opening Doors	Matchmaker	“Hitch” (2005)
90	Coping with the emotional impact of chronic illness	Weighed Burdens	Dietitian	“50/50” (2011)
91	Navigating religious or spiritual conflicts	Sacred Crossroads	Religious Counselor	“The Apostle” (1997)
92	Balancing personal interests and family obligations	Tangled Commitments	Event Planner	“The Family Stone” (2005)
93	Fear of being alone or abandonment	Empty Echoes	Radio Host	“Cast Away” (2000)
94	Overcoming a fear of public transportation	Uncharted Routes	Bus Driver	“Speed” (1994)
95	Coping with the loss of a friendship	Broken Ties	Weaver	“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” (2005)
96	Managing stress and burnout in the workplace	Burning Candles	Candlemaker	“Burn After Reading” (2008)
97	Feeling out of place in one’s own community	Disconnected Roots	Genealogist	“Gran Torino” (2008)
98	Overcoming a fear of heights or acrophobia	Soaring Heights	Pilot	“Top Gun” (1986)
99	Coping with the challenges of a long-distance friendship	Distant Echoes	Sound Engineer	“You’ve Got Mail” (1998)
100	Fear of failure in starting a new venture or business	Shattered Beginnings	Entrepreneur	“The Social Network” (2010)

Table 1. 100 Random Personal Problems, and related Metaphors (& Example Films on the the same Theme)

…By the way – films/movies, as units of culture, are (scientifically speaking), structured & function as

fractal HOLON/partons.

…So are: Stories / Narratives in general (…in any communication medium):

And, all units of culture, actually…!

For example:

And…

(See the textbook Elements of Ev Cult (2023, 2nd ed) for more details.)

—————–//——————

…And – so…

Enjoy: the new meta-meta-science, of – Ev Cult !

~~~~~~~//~~~~~~~~

(…And, you’re welcome.)

~Thus Spake The EthiSizer.

=========================

This has been a blogpost by:

Bio:

Dr J. T. Velikovsky Ph.D. (aka: Velikovsky of Newcastle) is an Evolutionary Culturologist, and also Transmedia (movies / TV / games / new media) writer-director-producer-designer and consultant.

His 2016 (Evolutionary Culturology) doctoral dissertation is also known as The StoryAlity Ph.D.[1] In the Appendix of that 2016 Ph.D., he published on his discovery of the fractal HOLON/parton structure & function of the unit of culture (aka the `meme’), founding the Meta-meta-science of Evolutionary Culturology.[2]

He is a PhD graduate of The Newcastle School of Creativity[3] and a member of the Cultural Evolution Society, the Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative, the International Screenwriting Research Network, and the Applied Evolutionary Epistemology Lab.[4]

His (Ev Cult) Ph.D. weblog on movie & screenwriting creativity is: https://storyality.wordpress.com/ and his Transmedia Writing weblog is: http://on-writering.blogspot.com/ His satirical short story (PH³: Phlash PHilosoPHiction) weblog is: PH3.

His Twitter is: @joeteevee His ORCID is: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6741-066X His Academia is: https://newcastle-au.academia.edu/JTVelikovsky and his Researchgate is: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jt-Velikovsky

Velikovsky of Newcastle’s research interests include: Evolutionary Culturology, Applied Evolutionary Epistemology, ArtScience,[5] Consilience, Systems Science, Communication Science, Narrative, Transmedia, Technology, Design, Creative Practice Theory, Cognitive Science, Cognitive Informatics, Natural and Artificial Intelligence, Information Science, Computational Creativity, and Evolutionary Culturology.

See, also –

Velikovsky’s: Recent Publications (02023)

…This post was first published on the Ev Cult weblog.