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katlittrell's picture

Kat's Spiel

This exercise was also a metaphorical reflection on biological evolution, in much the same way as the evolution of memes is analogous to biological evolution. From one starting point branches many and divergent offspring. If we were to draw a diagram on the board of the course of the stories we have in front of us, section by section, with each section representing a new generation, or, further, a new species, the diagram would somewhat resemble Darwin's diagram of speciation.

 

The future of each story relies on what has gone before it - is Jamie established as male or female, young, old, human, alien, animal... Once each option is decided upon, it opens up a new route for the story's evolution. Where does Jamie go, if anywhere? What does he or she or it do, if anything? Or do some of these stories hit dead-ends, as the experiments of evolution or wont to do? Randomness propels not only biological evolution, but also the development of these stories. Each is unique and descend with modification from the previous developments of others.

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