How much power do formal institutions have in our society?

I think that formal institutions have a lot of power in society. Like churches, they have a lot of power and influence in the society. Also schools and educational programs, they help hold society together. That's because most places don't want a bunch of uneducated idiots as employees. And the government has the most power in society because it is the society's backbone. It keeps everything in order and running smoothly.

Can one be too determined?

Can one be too determined? In my book, one can only be as determined as they want to be. I think the most determined someone could be is up to the point of obsession. If a person wants something bad enough then they will find a way to get what they want no matter what. But when somebody loses all interest in everything else, even the important things, just to get one thing, then they could be too determined.

What do you think is the most important quality of gothic stories.

When I hear the word gothic, I think of dark and scary. So that means gothic stories are suppose to be dark and scary. The ability to frighten or scare the readers is a key element in making a good gothic story. Also having a dark and mysterious setting and mood is very helpful and important in making a gothic story.

Do you agree that there is darkness within us all?

Is there darkness in all of us? Yes, I believe that there is darkness in all of us. There may be more in one person than another. But there is darkness in all of us. Just some of the things we do could be considered dark but we don't think they are. Like lying, lying is never good, even if it's for the best. But there is only one person who I know of that is not dark in any way, shape, or form, and that is Jesus Christ.

Why can dreamlike settings be powerful in literature and film?

I think that dreamlike settings can be very powerful in literature and film. It allows the author to just let all of their ideas just flow out of their mind perfectly the way he/she wants them to. The story could end anyway they want it to and the number of ideas for the story are limitless. And sometimes, a good author needs a good free write and just let everything flow out and put it on paper.