“is this a nanoswarm i see before me?” nanotechnology and the universal story

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“Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

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Page 1: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

“Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?”Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Page 2: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

What’s in store tonight….

• Part One: Literature• “The Song Remains the Same” – the story of

stories.• Prey.

• Part Two: Creative Writing• Your turn!

Page 3: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Part One: LiteratureWhy science fiction isn’t about the science.

Page 4: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Reading Journal

• Writing as discovery: The Response Journal

• Literature Circles

Page 5: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Archetypes – the Universal Story

• Although the word’s an old one, Carl Jung played a key role in introducing the idea of “archetypes” – universal images, types of people, objects.

• Jung thought these were part of our “collective unconscious.” In other words, we’re hard wired for them.

• Some Jungian Archetypes: Jungian Characters

Page 6: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Some Archetypal Characters (in Plain English)

• Hero • Mother figure (Earth Mother, Fairy Godmother,

Stepmother)• The great teacher/mentor (Wise Old Man/Woman)• The innocent (a child or inexperienced adult)• Underdog• Split personality—the other side of an individual• Scapegoat/Sacrificial Victim• Enchantress/Temptress• The Giant/Monster/Ogre• Trickster• Evil figure

Page 7: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

The Hero’s Journey

• The long version.• The basics (from Wikipedia):

• (1) a call to adventure, which the hero has to accept or decline

• (2) a road of trials, regarding which the hero succeeds or fails,

• (3) achieving the goal or "boon," which often results in important self-knowledge,

• (4) a return to the ordinary world, again as to which the hero can succeed or fail, and finally,

• (5) application of the boon in which what the hero has gained can be used to improve the world.

Page 8: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

The Shape of StoriesAccording to Algis Budrys:• A character• In a situation• With a problem• Who tries repeatedly to solve his problem, but

repeatedly fails, (usually making the problem worse), • then, at the climax of the story, makes a final attempt

(which might either succeed or fail, depending on the kind of story it is), after which

• the result is “validated” in a way that makes it clear that what we saw was, in fact, the final result.

Page 9: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Or, Boiled Down:

• Character(s) -- status quo

• Conflict

• Complications/Failures

• Crisis

• Falling action

• Resolution

These archetypes were originally discovered not only in literature, but in folk stories – so it’s no surprise we see them in:

Page 10: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Cinderella

• At the beginning of the story, Cinderella and her Dad are rolling merrily along in life – then:

Conflict!

Dad marries Evil Stepmom and forms Brady Family of Darkness

Then goes the way of all mortal flesh

Page 11: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Cinderella settles into life of song-filled drudgery.

Until….

Cinderella receives an invitation to a Royal Ball!

Complication!

Page 12: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Now things get messy!

Cinderella can’t go to the ball!

This is a grimace, not a smile.

Fairy Godmother to the Rescue!

A real Cinderella story!

Page 13: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

But….

Prince Sap…er, Charming…falls in love

Cinderella loses it all if she doesn’t leave by midnight.

Then the clock strikes 12:00!

Page 14: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Luckily…

Cinderella’s glass slipper survives the stroke of midnight – and can prove her identity.

But when the Prince comes knocking, evil Mrs. Brady won’t let her try on the slipper!

Page 15: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Crisis!!!!

Will Cinderella never escape the drudgery of cleaning up after the steps?

Will the Prince lose his one chance at true love? After all, who will marry him if

Cinderella doesn’t?

Will this mean a Disney movie with a sad ending? Will Ingmar Bergman direct?

Page 16: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

If the slipper fits, you must acquit (yourself well as the future Princess

Charming).

Success!

Page 17: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Falling action….

Cinderella and the Prince get hitched…

Cinderella moves to her new digs and….

Page 18: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Resolution!

They live happily ever after!

Page 19: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Until, of course….

The Venutian forces invade earth….

Giant space robots to the rescue!

Page 20: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

(OK, maybe some of this can wait for the sequel…)

Page 21: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

In your literature circle:

• How does Prey follow this structure? Identify:• The moment when Conflict first strikes• A few of the Complications/Failures• The Crisis• Falling action• Resolution

• What archetypal characters can you find in the novel?

• Where else could nanotech be used in an archetypal story?

Page 22: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Part Two: Creative WritingPutting Nanotech to work for you (without destroying the world).

Page 23: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Genres

• Fiction can be divided into many “genres” – “types” or “classes” of story.

• Wikipedia actually does a fair job of defining this term and identifying important genres.

• They include:

Page 24: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

FantasyFantasy fiction features stories set in fanciful, invented worlds or in a legendary, mythic past. The stories themselves are often epics or quests, frequently involving magic. The enormous popularity of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy and J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels demonstrates the wide appeal of this genre.

HorrorHorror fiction aims to evoke some combination of fear, fascination, and revulsion in its readers. This genre, like others, continues to evolve, recently moving away from stories with a religious or supernatural basis to ones making use of medical or psychological ideas.

MysteryMystery fiction, technically involving stories in which characters try to not discover a vital piece of information which is kept hidden till the climax, is now considered by many people almost a synonym for detective fiction. The standard novel stocked in the mystery section of bookstores is a whodunit.

Page 25: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

RomanceRomance is currently the largest and best-selling fiction genre in North America. It has produced a wide array of subgenres, the majority of which feature the mutual attraction and love of a man and a woman as the main plot, and have a happy ending.

Science fictionScience fiction is defined more by setting than by other story elements. With a few exceptions, stories off of Earth or in the future qualify as science fiction. Within these settings, the conventions of almost any other genre may be used. A sub-genre of science fiction is alternate history where, for some specific reason, the history of the novel deviates from the history of our world.

ThrillerA thriller is a story intended to evoke strong feelings of suspense and danger, usually involving a high-stakes hunt, chase, or a race against time. Thrillers often involve espionage, crime, medicine, or technology.

WesternWestern fiction is defined primarily by being set in the American West in the second half of the 19th century, and secondarily by featuring heroes who are rugged, individualistic horsemen (cowboys). Other genres, such as romance, have subgenres that make use of the Western setting.

Page 26: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Your turn! In your group:

• Choose a genre. Prey is a thriller – so that’s out. Sci Fi is too easy – so forget about it. Pick from:• Fantasy• Horror• Mystery• Romance• Western• And a bonus: Children’s story

• Come up with a story outline• Write the crisis scene for us.• Be ready to share!

Page 27: “Is this a Nanoswarm I See Before Me?” Nanotechnology and the Universal Story

Is this a dagger which I see before me,The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.Art thou not, fatal vision, sensibleTo feeling as to sight? or art thou butA dagger of the mind, a false creation,Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?I see thee yet, in form as palpableAs this which now I draw. (Macbeth (II, i, 33)