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)

https://mindthescreen.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/tales-of-epiphany-and-entropy-para-narrative-worlds-on-youtube/

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