Week 15: Story Lab (Writers Write)

Write What You Care About

"Write what you care about and understand. Writers should never try to outguess the marketplace in search of a salable idea; the simple truth is that all good books will eventually find a publisher if the writer tries hard enough, and a central secret to writing a good book is to write one that people like you will enjoy."

RICHARD NORTH PATTERSON

I think this a great piece of advice. So many times I am worried to gain approval from everyone else that I put my own interests aside. It's important to write and invest something you care about, the rest will follow.

(advice to writers)

Week 14: StoryLab

The Power of Creative Constraints 

TedEd videos: creative and writing style

Constraints play a special role in helping drive design and experiment. Without constraints and a little guidance we wouldn't know where to begin with our own creativity. 

In the video, the example they use is our mission to put something on Mars without releasing chemicals onto the soil. In 1996, scientists were able to figure out a paper bag tactic where the object would roll to a stop. Fast forward to 2011 engineers had made the Rover and we wanted to continue to explore Mars without interfering with its soil. They invented a sky crane! These are both examples of constraints, that were the catalyst for creative thinking and experimentation. 

"Solutions recognize the current limitations in technology in order to advance it."

Constraints guide decision making and that is super impactful. Sometimes unintentional experiments lead to the discovery of something new and better. Constraints aren't limitations, but the foundation of experimentation. 

(video)

Week 12: Storylab, Language

How Language Evolves- Alex Gendler

Language is something I don't often think about where it all came from. It amazes me that at one time there were small civilizations, that eventually broke off and created their own interpretations of communication. The thousands of languages existing today can all be traced back. As populations continued to grow, people continued to divide and start their own lifestyle. Being separated from one another gave everyone the opportunity to eat different foods, live in different climates, and adapt to nature in different ways. We use grammar and syntax to see how different languages are related.
Another question I came across how words become words. We already have 170,000 but continue to grow our language all the time. English borrows words from languages all the time. We make words by compound words or merging words together. Sometimes new words aren't really new words, but gain a new meaning. Language is so interesting and so fascinating!

(ted talk)

Week 10: Storylab TedEd

A New Theory of Human Intelligence: (Web Link)

Scott Barry Kaufman shared his personal story of how he grew up with a disability. This disability made his teachers believe he was incapable, so held him back a couple grades and put him in special education. Kaufman's passion is to use psychological science and creativity to help measure someone's potential, rather than just solely relying on IQ tests.

His focus for his new theory of human intelligence:
Four C's model:
Capacity
Competence
Commitment
Creativity

Although IQ does correlate with capacity, Kaufman believes that there is more to capability than standardized tests. Intelligence is the dynamic interplay of engagement and ability in pursuit of personal goals. He emphasizes that the more motivated we are, the more likely we are able to achieve, and the more engaged we are. Students fall between the cracks in terms of the standard society has set because of IQ tests and ACT scores. He figured out a strategy using his creativity and commitment to put himself in a position, allowing him to finally pursue his passion and hopefully create a change in the system.

(Kaufman)

STORYLAB: CRASH COURSE

This StoryLab: Crash Course was a lot of information at once. However, I took away a lot of beneficial information, therefore broadening my understanding of myths, mythology, and the theories of myths.

Mythology is a Slurpee, a combo of science, history, sociology, anthropology, religion, psychology and literature

·      Myths are many different interpretations,

·      Not necessarily facts. Myths can be read and understand in a number of ways

·      Line between myth and religion is blurry

Mythology is a Slurpee

A working definition for myth: story that is false and not to be taken seriously

However many people take myths very seriously; the systematic studies of myths

“A myth is story, but it’s a special kind of story, that for the purposes of this series has two primary characteristics: significance and staying power” (staying power means surviving centuries)  

Mike gives an example of Persephone myth that explains the seasons the cycle of planting and harvest to the actions of the immortals.

In summary, he told the story of Zeus’s daughter being taken by her Uncle Hades. Because she ate six pomegranate seeds she had to live in the Underworld for six months out of the year. Therefore creating winter. This explains the seasons and cycle of planting and harvesting.

I mentioned earlier that some people do not take myths lightly and rely on them as a credible source. Tylor was a scientist who used myths has science and believed that they are all historical facts.

I believe you have to take each myth with a grain of salt. Meaning that some are interpretations of original myths and some can be completely made up and false.

Myths originated mid 500 bc in Greece and Plato was the one that insisted myths including gods and super heros were irrational. He had a bias however and believed his myths were the only ones rational and true.

WEEK 4: STORY LABORATORY

The danger of a single story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Single Story Web Link

Chimamanda began reading and writing at a very young age. She talked about how impressionable and vulnerable she was by the books she read. She had never left Nigeria or knew anything outside of Nigeria, so her stories were only familiar with the British and American books she read as a child. Once she came across African books she knew more than just the single perception she had from the books she read. Once she came to America to go to college, she was quick to realize that her American roommate had a “single story” about people from Africa. In a patronizing way assumed Chimamanda didn’t know how to work a stove, listened to tribal music, and was shocked to hear her speak English so well. We are all guilty of the single story. The single story is basically the close minded perception we have of others. When we are younger or not familiar with something we create our own perceptions without knowing reality. Majority of the time these single story perceptions carry on into our older years and that is when stereotypes and prejudices begin to evolve. We take what we think we know or what we have always heard about the unknown and that becomes our first impression.  When we read one thing , we cannot assume it reflects on all ethnicity, religions, or cultures that are represented in the single story.  

  

Imaginary friends and real-world consequences: parasocial relationships | Jennifer Barnes | TEDxOU: TED Talk Web Link

Jennifer Barnes answers the questions. Why do we spend so much time, emotion, and money on something we know isn't real? Why do we engage and feel so passionate about fictional characters? Why do we care so much and feel so connected to them? 

A parasocial relationship is a relationship you form with someone you don't really know. For instance, I feel like I know Justin Bieber by the way I follow him on social media, watch videos of him, and listen to his music. I feel like I know him. We don't only follow these celebrities through a publicity platform, but through their personal social media. We feel like we actually know them! But, when it comes down to it, we know that we are just a spec in these fictional characters and celebrities lives, and they don't know us! However, we still feel connected to them. We have a subconscious belief that we believe that fictional characters are fictional, but we have alief, a gut feeling they're actually real. This Ted Talk was super interesting and left me thinking about all the fictional characters and celebrities that I feel like I have a relationship with.