Elements of surprise : our mental limits and the satisfactions of plot
(Book)
Author
Published
Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, 2018.
Physical Description
332 pages ; 22 cm
Status
Summary
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Location | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
Northwest College - Hinckley Library - Second Floor | 808.394 T629E | On Shelf |
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More Details
Published
Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, 2018.
Format
Book
Language
English
UPC
40028060314
Notes
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 285-320) and index.
Summary
Elements of Surprise opens with a novel but narrow focus: how a particular cognitive bias, the "curse of knowledge, " underwrites stories that rely on what it calls "well-made surprise, " as seen in (for example) classic detective fiction--that is, surprises in novels, films, television, and plays that set us up to be fooled in ways we find pleasing and satisfying. But from there, the book expands its reach. At its core, "cursed" thinking underlies almost everything people write, say, and think about both other people and our own pasts. The more information we have about something, and the more experience we have with it, the harder it is to step outside that experience. What unfolds is both a fresh approach to mental heuristics and biases and an ambitious work of cognitive literary criticism. Elements of Surprise provides a new and exciting way of thinking about the mechanics of narrative, explored through thoughtful readings of classic, popular, and obscure texts.--,Provided by publisher.
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Citations
APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)
Tobin, V. (2018). Elements of surprise: our mental limits and the satisfactions of plot . Harvard University Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Tobin, Vera, 1975-. 2018. Elements of Surprise: Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot. Harvard University Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Tobin, Vera, 1975-. Elements of Surprise: Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot Harvard University Press, 2018.
MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)Tobin, Vera. Elements of Surprise: Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot Harvard University Press, 2018.
Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.