Elements of Surprise: Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot
Tobin, Vera
ISBN 10: 0674980204 ISBN 13: 9780674980204
Published by Harvard University Press, 2018
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About this Item
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Acceptable/Fair condition. Book is worn, but the pages are complete, and the text is legible. Has wear to binding and pages, may be ex-library. 1.25. Seller Inventory # 353-0674980204-acp
Synopsis:
Why do some surprises delight―the endings of Agatha Christie novels, films like The Sixth Sense, the flash awareness that Pip’s benefactor is not (and never was!) Miss Havisham? Writing at the intersection of cognitive science and narrative pleasure, Vera Tobin explains how our brains conspire with stories to produce those revelatory plots that define a “well-made surprise.”
By tracing the prevalence of surprise endings in both literary fiction and popular literature and showing how they exploit our mental limits, Tobin upends two common beliefs. The first is cognitive science’s tendency to consider biases a form of moral weakness and failure. The second is certain critics’ presumption that surprise endings are mere shallow gimmicks. The latter is simply not true, and the former tells at best half the story. Tobin shows that building a good plot twist is a complex art that reflects a sophisticated understanding of the human mind.
Reading classic, popular, and obscure literature alongside the latest research in cognitive science, Tobin argues that a good surprise works by taking advantage of our mental limits. Elements of Surprise describes how cognitive biases, mental shortcuts, and quirks of memory conspire with stories to produce wondrous illusions, and also provides a sophisticated how-to guide for writers. In Tobin’s hands, the interactions of plot and cognition reveal the interdependencies of surprise, sympathy, and sense-making. The result is a new appreciation of the pleasures of being had.
About the Author: Vera Tobin is Assistant Professor in the Department of Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University.
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Bibliographic Details
Title: Elements of Surprise: Our Mental Limits and ...
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Publication Date: 2018
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Fair
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Elements of Surprise: Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot
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Elements of Surprise: Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot
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Elements of Surprise: Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot
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Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Why do some surprises delight-the endings of Agatha Christie novels, films like The Sixth Sense, the flash awareness that Pip's benefactor is not (and never was!) Miss Havisham? Writing at the intersection of cognitive science and narrative pleasure, Vera Tobin explains how our brains conspire with stories to produce those revelatory plots that define a "well-made surprise."By tracing the prevalence of surprise endings in both literary fiction and popular literature and showing how they exploit our mental limits, Tobin upends two common beliefs. The first is cognitive science's tendency to consider biases a form of moral weakness and failure. The second is certain critics' presumption that surprise endings are mere shallow gimmicks. The latter is simply not true, and the former tells at best half the story. Tobin shows that building a good plot twist is a complex art that reflects a sophisticated understanding of the human mind.Reading classic, popular, and obscure literature alongside the latest research in cognitive science, Tobin argues that a good surprise works by taking advantage of our mental limits. Elements of Surprise describes how cognitive biases, mental shortcuts, and quirks of memory conspire with stories to produce wondrous illusions, and also provides a sophisticated how-to guide for writers. In Tobin's hands, the interactions of plot and cognition reveal the interdependencies of surprise, sympathy, and sense-making. The result is a new appreciation of the pleasures of being had. Reading classic and popular literature alongside the latest research in cognitive science, Vera Tobin shows that a good surprise works by taking advantage of cognitive biases, mental shortcuts, and quirks of memory. She provides not only a sophisticated how-to guide for writers butfor all readersa new appreciation of the pleasures of being had. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780674980204
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Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Why do some surprises delight-the endings of Agatha Christie novels, films like The Sixth Sense, the flash awareness that Pip's benefactor is not (and never was!) Miss Havisham? Writing at the intersection of cognitive science and narrative pleasure, Vera Tobin explains how our brains conspire with stories to produce those revelatory plots that define a "well-made surprise."By tracing the prevalence of surprise endings in both literary fiction and popular literature and showing how they exploit our mental limits, Tobin upends two common beliefs. The first is cognitive science's tendency to consider biases a form of moral weakness and failure. The second is certain critics' presumption that surprise endings are mere shallow gimmicks. The latter is simply not true, and the former tells at best half the story. Tobin shows that building a good plot twist is a complex art that reflects a sophisticated understanding of the human mind.Reading classic, popular, and obscure literature alongside the latest research in cognitive science, Tobin argues that a good surprise works by taking advantage of our mental limits. Elements of Surprise describes how cognitive biases, mental shortcuts, and quirks of memory conspire with stories to produce wondrous illusions, and also provides a sophisticated how-to guide for writers. In Tobin's hands, the interactions of plot and cognition reveal the interdependencies of surprise, sympathy, and sense-making. The result is a new appreciation of the pleasures of being had. Reading classic and popular literature alongside the latest research in cognitive science, Vera Tobin shows that a good surprise works by taking advantage of cognitive biases, mental shortcuts, and quirks of memory. She provides not only a sophisticated how-to guide for writers butfor all readersa new appreciation of the pleasures of being had. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780674980204
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Elements of Surprise: Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot
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Elements of Surprise: Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot
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Gebunden. Condition: New. Reading classic and popular literature alongside the latest research in cognitive science, Vera Tobin shows that a good surprise works by taking advantage of cognitive biases, mental shortcuts, and quirks of memory. She provides not only a sophisticated how. Seller Inventory # 594877929
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Elements of Surprise : Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot
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ISBN 10: 0674980204
ISBN 13: 9780674980204
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