Trilogy (other)

A trilogy is a set of three distinct works that are connected and can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, and video games. Three-part works that are considered components of a larger work also exist, such as the triptych or the three-movement sonata, but they are not commonly referred to with the term "trilogy".

Most trilogies are works of fiction involving the same characters or setting, such as '' The Deptford Trilogy'' of novels by Robertson Davies, ''The Apu Trilogy'' of films by Satyajit Ray, and The Kingdom (miniseries), ''The Kingdom Trilogy'' of television miniseries from 1994 to 2022 by Lars von Trier. Other fiction trilogies are connected only by theme: for example, each film of Krzysztof Kieślowski's Three Colours trilogy explores one of the political ideals of the French Republic (Liberté, égalité, fraternité, liberty, equality, fraternity). Trilogies can also be connected in less obvious ways, such as ''The Nova Trilogy'' of novels by William S. Burroughs, each written using cut-up technique.

The term is seldom applied outside media. One example is the "Tribal sovereignty in the United States, Marshall Trilogy", a common term for three rulings written by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall from 1823 to 1832 concerning the legal status of Native Americans under U.S. law.

Trilogies—and series in general—are common in speculative fiction.

History

Trilogies ( grc-gre, τριλογία ''trilogia'') date back to ancient times. In the Dionysia festivals of ancient Greece, for example, trilogies of Play (theatre), plays were performed followed by a fourth satyr play. ''The Oresteia'' is the only surviving trilogy of these ancient Greek plays, originally performed at the festival in Athens in 458 BC. The three Theban plays, or Oedipus cycle, by Sophocles, originating in 5th century BC, is not a true example of a trilogy because the plays were written at separate times and with different themes/purposes.

An example of a modern trilogy in popular fiction would be J. R. R. Tolkien's ''The Lord of the Rings'' (1954-1955), which was published in three parts for economic reasons (although it was written as a single novel). In addition, technical changes in printing and film in the mid-to-late 20th century made the creation of trilogies more feasible, while the development of mass media and modern global distribution networks has made them more likely to be lucrative. Other examples of trilogies in fiction include the Wayfarers (novel), Wayfarers trilogy by Knut Hamsun, the Cairo Trilogy by Naguib Mahfouz, The Border Trilogy by Cormac McCarthy, or His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman.

In media

Films

* Lars von Trier has occasionally referred to his films as falling into thematic and stylistic trilogies; about the Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, apocalyptic subject matters in ''Europa trilogy, Europa'' trilogy (consists ''The Element of Crime'' (1984), ''Epidemic (film), Epidemic'' (1987), and ''Europa (1991 film), Europa'' (1991)); the Tragedy, heroine's tragedies in ''Golden Heart'' trilogy (consists ''Breaking the Waves'' (1996), ''The Idiots'' (1998), and ''Dancer in the Dark'' (2000)); the Anti-Americanism, anti-American culture in ''Land of Opportunities'' trilogy (consists ''Dogville'' (2003) and ''Manderlay'' (2005)); and the Art film, artistic imagery portrays graphic sexuality and disturbing violence in ''Depression'' trilogy (consists of ''Antichrist (film), Antichrist'' (2009), ''Melancholia (2011 film), Melancholia'' (2011), and ''Nymphomaniac (film), Nymphomaniac'' (2013)).
* The ''Before trilogy, Before'' trilogy consists of three American Romance film, romance films created by Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, who both co-wrote the two sequels. Beginning with ''Before Sunrise'' (1995), and continuing with ''Before Sunset'' (2004) and ''Before Midnight'' (2013).
* The ''Death'' trilogy consists of three psychological drama films about the human condition and Hyperlink cinema, intertwined plots with different characters; ''Amores perros'' (2000), ''21 Grams'' (2003) and ''Babel (film), Babel'' (2006); all directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Guillermo Arriaga.
* ''Gay Galician Dogma'' consists of three Dogme 95 films about life, love, and sex; ''Once Upon Another Time'' (2000; Dogme #22), ''Wedding Days'' (2002; Dogme #30), and ''The Outcome'' (2005; Dogme #31); all directed by Spanish filmmaker Juan Pinzás.

Music

The term is less often applied to music. One example is the ''Berlin Trilogy'' of David Bowie, which is linked together by musical sound and lyrical themes, all having been recorded at least partly in Berlin, Germany.

Video games

The ''Lisa'' Trilogy was released between 2012 and 2015, developed by Dingaling Productions, with each three games (consists ''The First'', ''Lisa: The Painful, The Painful'', and ''The Joyful'') have different apocalyptic settings and playable protagonists, and themes of transgenerational trauma and child abuse. The first installment developed as a ''Yume Nikki''-style adventure game using RPG Maker 2003 released as freeware, while the latter two developed as more role-playing/Side-scrolling video game, side-scrolling platformer hybrid genre using RPG Maker VX, RPG Maker VX Ace released for cost.

Adding works to an existing trilogy

Creators of trilogies may later add more works. In such a case, the original three works may or may not keep the title "trilogy".

* The first three novels in ''The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' series were dubbed a trilogy, and even after he extended the series, author Douglas Adams continued to use the term for humorous effect - for example, calling ''Mostly Harmless'' "the fifth book in the increasingly inaccurately named trilogy."
* Kevin Smith's films ''Clerks (1994 film), Clerks'', ''Mallrats'' and ''Chasing Amy'' were often marketed as "The New Jersey Trilogy" because they had overlapping characters, events and locations. After the release of a fourth film, Dogma (film), ''Dogma'', the series is referred to as "the View Askewniverse".
* The Star Wars original trilogy, ''Star Wars'' trilogy of three films released between 1977 and 1983 has since been expanded into a trilogy of trilogies: the original trilogy, the Star Wars prequel trilogy, prequel trilogy released between 1999 and 2005, and the Star Wars sequel trilogy, sequel trilogy released between 2015 and 2019.

See also

* List of feature film series with three entries
* Trifecta
* Tritheism
* Tetralogy

References

{{works series

Literary trilogies,
Narrative forms
Trilogies,
Literary series
Film series
Video game franchises