I don't consider myself to be a very good fiction writer, so I found the reading "Deus ex Machina" quite useful and interesting. It gives tools towards how to steer a plot line in the direction that you want it to through the use of 'machines'. Basically, the writer of the text states that "any artistic text is a machine working on the reader: a 'machine' not only in the figurative sense, but in the strictly cybernetic sense as well- as a transforming device" (p. 53). So to me this means that the 'artistic text' (as a tool for transformation) allows the reader to follow the plot the way that the writer of the text wants he/she to. Or, in other words, the writer uses these 'machines' to make the plot develop in a certain way.
The writer of PE then goes on to explain different types of machines that are present in artistic texts.
1) Physical machines (example: the water pipe in Lawrence's story as a mover of the action)
2)Social and Linguistic Machines (example: the legend of Romulus and Remus in the time machine story)
3)'Ready-made' objects (example: the legend can also be considered a 'ready-made' object which guides the story plot)
4)Magical Machines (example: fairy tales which are also 'ready-made' objects and steer the plot a certain way)
5) Universal Plot Machine and Denouement Machine (example: a ferris wheel moves in the same way as a story line- from up to down, etc.)
What I found most interesting about this reading was the following lines: "That is why the role played by the machine is often predictable. A gun must fire; a horse, car or train can be ridden; a wheel turns; and so on" (p. 55). These objects give off a sense of fate- their function is sealed. Often when I read things, if there is say, a gun, in a story, it is true that I automatically predict that something regarding the gun will produce a change in the story- for example someone getting shot. However, even though I realize that certain objects in a story have more significance than others, I never thought of them as machines that are transformative devices. It just never occurred to me to classify them that way but after reading this text, it does make sense to do so. This reading should be used in a "Learn to write fiction class" (if it isn't being used in those types of classes yet), it could be very useful to people, myself included. It would be interesting to analyze a text while comparing and connecting the 'machines' to the literary themes.
I also found these particular lines to be pretty interesting. They are a clear representation of the "machines" that surround us on a daily basis. And I have to agree with you that certain objects in stories automatically take me toward a conclusion or put me on guard for some type of action that will change the storyline.
ReplyDeleteGood summary for the text. and yes the text talks about different types of"machines" and we can see them present in science fiction works as Harry Potter or the lord of the Rings and in fairy tales as well as the flying carpet in Alaadin. Besides, It talks about natural machines as well because in many artistic works a river for example works as a escape point for protagonists to escape from a certain situation.
ReplyDeleteI think in TV, the best series that includes"machines" is "Heroes" becuase characters escape from different dangers either through time, flying...etc.
I think it was Chekov who said that a gun that appears in the first act must go off in the third.
ReplyDeleteOf course, a work of literature is perhaps more interesting when such conventions are broken, rather than observed.
Yep, I agree with Jon re the broken conventions being more interesting...
ReplyDeleteI also agree with your view of the value of using this text to aid with writing - if only to be more aware of the possibilities and expectations provided or created through use of certain elements in plot-building. And if choosing to break conventions, to be able to do so deliberately rather than accidentally!