Moral Choice in Interactive Fiction

Web Art Science Camp London 2010

in Interactive FictionMoral Choice

J. Nathan Matias

moral choice interactive fiction J. Nathan Matias

Web Art Science CampLondon 2010in

How can I and my studentswrite essays about Electronic Literature?



How can I and my studentswrite essays about Electronic Literature?

with full respect for:

World Literature

Literary Form



What we look forin Literary Essays

“Agamemnon”a case study



1.Zeus gives good omens

Chorus of citizens

“Agamemnon”(Aeschylus)



1.Zeus gives good omens2.The ships are stuck

Chorus of citizens




1.Zeus gives good omens2.The ships are stuck3.A sacrifice is required

Chorus of citizens




1.Zeus gives good omens2.The ships are stuck3.A sacrifice is required4.Agamemnon “put on the yoke

of necessity” and sacrifices his daughter

Chorus of citizens




1. Zeus gives good omens2. The ships are stuck3. A sacrifice is required4. Agamemnon “put on the yoke


Chorus of citizens


what is necessity?

who is responsible in a democracy?

what are the merits of sacrifices?

does the will of the gods bring sorrow?

if innocent people are harmed in the cause of justice, is that okay?

if your values and principles dictate violence, are you free of blame?

how long can victors write the history?

how much should we sacrifice family interests for the state?





Chorus of citizens


Literary Essay





Chorus of citizens


Literary Essay

Words:“necessity”





Chorus of citizens


Literary Essay


Rhythm/Musicsacrifice ritual





Chorus of citizens


Literary Essay



Characters





Chorus of citizens


Literary Essay



Characters•Iphegeneia’s

pleading look





Chorus of citizens


Literary Essay




pleading look•Agamemnon’s

resolve





Chorus of citizens


Literary Essay





resolve•Citizen viewpoint





Chorus of citizens


Literary Essay






Stagingsacrifice re-enacted





Chorus of citizens


Literary Essay







Culture & TraditionAthenian Empire & Dionysian Festival





Chorus of citizens


Literary Essay







Culture & TraditionAthenian Empire & Dionysian Festival

Scholarly traditions





Chorus of citizens


apply insights tocontemporary ethics(Nussbaum)

re-stage to make a point(Anouihl) (Fugard)

argue the value of technique(Oliver Taplin)

identify good ideas & design(Bernstein)

become more skilled at evaluating our own world

assemble cultural history

Literary Essay

be inspired to understandthrough creativity (Wagner)



Athenian Innovations

3 characters stage machinery

the trilogy onstage action

the cliffhanger the NPC

silence




3 charactersdemocracy with victims

stage machinerythe importance of public opinion in murder vs justice

the trilogygenerational ethics

onstage re-enactionmemory & public sympathies

the cliffhangerproblematising success

the NPChuman powerlessness toward gods and generals

silenceresentment & hypocrisy




3 charactersdemocracy with victims

stage machinerythe importance of public opinion in murder vs justice

the trilogygenerational ethics

onstage re-enactionmemory & public sympathies

the cliffhangerproblematising closure

the NPChuman powerlessness toward gods and generals

silenceunspoken resentment

what they “represent” with

literary form

we don’t primarily examine

we focus on

what study reveals from what they present



Moral Choicein Electronic Literature




Literary Essays




Literary Essays Psychology




Literary Essays Psychology Design





?





literarychoice



Electronic Literature invites

Reader Actions

Could we analyse reader choicefor insight on the stories themselves,

and literature in general?



You are negotiating with a powerful but determined terrorist who is about to set off a bomb in a crowded area… To stop him, you must contact him...and, in front of the camera, break one of his son’s arms and threaten to break the other one if he does not give himself up.



You are negotiating with a powerful but determined terrorist who is about to set off a bomb in a crowded area… To stop him, you must contact him...and, in front of the camera, break one of his son’s arms and threaten to break the other one if he does not give himself up.

Should you break the terrorist son’s arm?

(Harvard Moral Sense Test)







You have always treated your pixie, Amalia, very well, and until

today, you've never cut her wings [....]




today, you've never cut her wings [....] You approach the pixie.

She cowers in fear, her hands held up to you in a begging

motion.






motion.

1) "No, I cannot harm such an innocent creature!"

2) (Proceed) "I'm sorry pixie. I'll try to make amends to you

when this whole crisis is over."

3) (Proceed in silence)

>> _






motion.

1) "No, I cannot harm such an innocent creature!"

2) (Proceed) "I'm sorry pixie. I'll try to make amends to you

when this whole crisis is over."

3) (Proceed in silence)

>> _

(Gijsbers IN 52-55)



Literary choice is a single reader action forced by a text which has implied that this action wi! affect a situation narrated by the text.



Useful for

psych, design

& literary

essays!

Literary choice is a single reader action forced by a text which has implied that this action wi! affect a situation narrated by the text.



consequences implied

the choice

branching consequences



consequences implied

the choice

branching consequences

Literary Choice



Rerun the Moral Sense Test

Write Criticism of Electronic Literature

An e-reader software package for testing

literary response

Future Directions

Technology

Moral Choice in Interactive Fiction