The Mating Mind and Spent by Geoffrey Miller delve into how signalling concerns pushed us evolutionarily into who we are and then how our evolved tendencies are disconnected with modern consumer culture.
Does Comeuppance give any clues about why Martin’s Game of Thrones series is so wildly popular? It’s a world with plenty of power maneuvering but little or no justice so far.
Flesch would argue it’s largely because there is so little justice in the books. We’re interested in tracking others through stories to see who deserves punishment. We remain emotionally involved to see what happens to them, and more injustices mean even more reason to keep tabs on what they’re doing. Anticipation of justice is more satisfying than seeing justice itself.
I have to admit there’s a character I want to see smashed flat. In normal fiction, he would be and I can’t count on it happening with Martin, but it still feels like a reason to read book six, when and if it comes out.
Does Flesch get into the difference between punishment and challenge? Either can be a strong hook for readers.
On signalling:
Comeuppance: Costly Signaling, Altruistic Punishment, and Other Biological Components of Fiction by William Flesch attempts to explain what makes certain plots, or fiction at all, enjoyable through a signalling lens.
The Mating Mind and Spent by Geoffrey Miller delve into how signalling concerns pushed us evolutionarily into who we are and then how our evolved tendencies are disconnected with modern consumer culture.
Codes of the Underworld: How Criminals Communicate by Diego Gambetta
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Does Comeuppance give any clues about why Martin’s Game of Thrones series is so wildly popular? It’s a world with plenty of power maneuvering but little or no justice so far.
Thanks about the links.
Flesch would argue it’s largely because there is so little justice in the books. We’re interested in tracking others through stories to see who deserves punishment. We remain emotionally involved to see what happens to them, and more injustices mean even more reason to keep tabs on what they’re doing. Anticipation of justice is more satisfying than seeing justice itself.
I have to admit there’s a character I want to see smashed flat. In normal fiction, he would be and I can’t count on it happening with Martin, but it still feels like a reason to read book six, when and if it comes out.
Does Flesch get into the difference between punishment and challenge? Either can be a strong hook for readers.