Thematic-Chain Reactions
INTRODUCTION
CHAIN REACTIONS – A MACHINERY FOR NARRATIVE
Balance is most beautiful just at the point when it is about to collapse, Fischli & Weiss
Narrative is sometimes thought of as a sequence of cause and effect. But there are other ways of thinking about narrative that exploit how much it also relies on chance, risk and "tipping points". A popular modern genre is the “chain reaction”, consisting of a series of actions and reactions between objects linked in precarious and highly contrived ways. In this workshop we will explore how far we can use it as a general approach to narrative as an expression of creative uncertainty, balance and the "life of things".
Some forms and sub-genres -
- The Basic linear chain reaction - The Way Things Go
- Built from one particular element – domino toppling
- Rube Goldberg machines where chain performs a trivial task
- Necro non-sequitur (“Final Destination”)
- The Butterfly effect
- Problem solving in computer games
- Hierarchical – a pyramid scheme
- Trickshots (the camera can make events out of sheer noise)
Goal - to challenge assumptions about the Chain Reaction genre, that it is
- linear
- autonomous (self-propelled)
- mechanical
- meaningless (non-representational)
Pre-reading (set text)
Please read this essay before the workshop begins. (Leslie has a pdf if you prefer).
Tales of epiphany and entropy: paranarrative worlds on youtube, Thomas Elsaesser. (In: Warren Buckland (ed), "Film Theory and Contemporary Hollywood Movies", Routledge, 2009)
TIMETABLE
MONDAY : (First class)
10:00-11:30 Introduction
- etc
- etc
17:00-17:30 Wrap
- finish
18:30 - 20:30 Something extra
- finish
TUESDAY : (xxx)
10:00-11:30 Introduction
- etc
- etc
WEDNESDAY : (xxx)
10:00-11:30 Introduction
- etc
- etc
18:00-19:00 Break
19:00-21:00 Presentations
- prizes