Walking Blues Changes Undersea

Walking BluesWalking BluesChanges UnderseaChanges Undersea

A Discussion of Double-ScopeA Discussion of Double-ScopeStories and ComputationalStories and Computational

Narrative PoetryNarrative Poetry

0 Introduction0 Introduction

““Walking Blues Changes UnderseaWalking Blues Changes Undersea”” is a is a polypoempolypoem(polymorphic poem) that is generated(polymorphic poem) that is generateddynamically based upon user input and andynamically based upon user input and anauthorauthor’’s composition.s composition.

It raises issues regarding entrenched metaphors,It raises issues regarding entrenched metaphors,double-scope stories, narrative structuring anddouble-scope stories, narrative structuring andimagining, and computational approaches toimagining, and computational approaches tonarrative and concept representation.narrative and concept representation.

But what is But what is ““generative interactivegenerative interactivenarrative poetry?narrative poetry?””

1 Toward Generative and1 Toward Generative andInteractive NarrativeInteractive Narrative

““StoryStory”” is not a well defined technical term. is not a well defined technical term.

Stories are: dynamic interactions of events, actors, andStories are: dynamic interactions of events, actors, andobjects (Turner)objects (Turner)

Stories are: Stories are: sequence of events involving characters.sequence of events involving characters.((JahnJahn))

'Events' include both natural and'Events' include both natural and nonnatural nonnatural happenings.happenings.((JahnJahn))

Characters get involved by being agents (causingCharacters get involved by being agents (causingevents), victims (patients), or beneficiaries (beingevents), victims (patients), or beneficiaries (beingaffected by events). (affected by events). (JahnJahn))

1.1 Toward Generative and1.1 Toward Generative andInteractive NarrativeInteractive Narrative

Narrative is Narrative is ““storystory”” presented via media. presented via media.

DiscourseDiscourse Narratology Narratology analyzes the stylisticanalyzes the stylisticchoices that determine the form or realization ofchoices that determine the form or realization ofa narrative text.a narrative text.

StoryStory Narratology Narratology focuses on the action unitsfocuses on the action unitsthatthat 'emplot' 'emplot' and arrange a stream of events intoand arrange a stream of events intoa trajectory of themes, motives and plot lines.a trajectory of themes, motives and plot lines.


CognitiveCognitive Narratology Narratology (if such a thing exists)(if such a thing exists)focuses on underlying cognitive patterns andfocuses on underlying cognitive patterns andprocesses, for example projection of action-processes, for example projection of action-stories onto event-stories (the events are actionsstories onto event-stories (the events are actionspattern), how these arise from image schema,pattern), how these arise from image schema,blending, etc.blending, etc.

ComputationalComputational Narratology Narratology (our version) focuses(our version) focuseson insights from the cognitive version andon insights from the cognitive version andcomputer science approaches to integratingcomputer science approaches to integratingstructures in order to implement elements fromstructures in order to implement elements fromthe discourse version.the discourse version.


Generation is enabled by using an algorithm forGeneration is enabled by using an algorithm forconceptual blending (Alloy) to compose axiomsconceptual blending (Alloy) to compose axiomsdescribing thematic content on the fly, and thedescribing thematic content on the fly, and theGRIOT system, which can compose narrativeGRIOT system, which can compose narrativeclauses according to reconfigurable discourseclauses according to reconfigurable discoursestructures.structures.

Interaction is incorporated by allowing user inputInteraction is incorporated by allowing user inputto guide the selection of to guide the selection of ““conceptual spacesconceptual spaces”” to tobe integrated, and the selection of phrases ofbe integrated, and the selection of phrases ofspecific clause types to be configured.specific clause types to be configured.


Writing in GRIOTWriting in GRIOT


GRIOT ArchitectureGRIOT Architecture

2 An example2 An example

Walking Blues Changes Undersea (excerpt fromWalking Blues Changes Undersea (excerpt fromLisp Demonstration):Lisp Demonstration):

my world was so small and heavy ,my world was so small and heavy ,rooms for waking, bathing, consuming, sweating, sunning,rooms for waking, bathing, consuming, sweating, sunning,

devouring, sleeping, and wakingdevouring, sleeping, and wakingmy first movement of the day awaits, Imy first movement of the day awaits, I-> stretch-> stretchand encounter fishermen, soft grogginessand encounter fishermen, soft grogginessa whiff of sea passes through mea whiff of sea passes through mereciting a pop song like a mantra while washing, I decide toreciting a pop song like a mantra while washing, I decide to-> scrub-> scrubdaily daily tidepool tidepool quiet cleaningquiet cleaninganan Atlantean Atlantean aroma aroma......

3 Constituents of the3 Constituents of thePolypoemPolypoem

The experience traversing one day. (Life isThe experience traversing one day. (Life isa Journey)a Journey)



The experience of a sinking environment,The experience of a sinking environment,the Atlantis story. (Down is Bad)the Atlantis story. (Down is Bad)




A double-scope story...but there is more A double-scope story...but there is moregoing on here.going on here.




Emotional Disposition.Emotional Disposition.




Emotional Disposition.Emotional Disposition. Conventional rhetorical structure fromConventional rhetorical structure from

Interactive Fiction, conversation, andInteractive Fiction, conversation, andimprovisational storytelling.improvisational storytelling.




Emotional Disposition.Emotional Disposition. Conventional rhetorical structure fromConventional rhetorical structure from

Interactive Fiction, conversational stories,Interactive Fiction, conversational stories,and improvisational storytelling.and improvisational storytelling.

User input structured by the rhetoricalUser input structured by the rhetoricalstructure above.structure above.

4 Double-Scope Stories4 Double-Scope Stories

excerpt from ‘O, Magali’ from FredericMistral’s Mireille (Turner 2003)

––If you become a fish, I will become a fisherman.If you become a fish, I will become a fisherman.––Well then I will become a bird and fly away.Well then I will become a bird and fly away.––Then I will become a hunter and hunt you.Then I will become a hunter and hunt you.––Then I will become a flowering herb in the wild.Then I will become a flowering herb in the wild.––Then I will become water and sprinkle you.Then I will become water and sprinkle you.––Then I will become a cloud and float away toThen I will become a cloud and float away to

America.America.––Then I will become the sea breeze to carry you.Then I will become the sea breeze to carry you.……

5 Conclusions5 Conclusions

Double-scope stories (Double-scope stories (polypoemspolypoems) are) areimplemented via structural blending.implemented via structural blending.

Some elements being integrated are mediaSome elements being integrated are mediarepresentations of concepts, and some arerepresentations of concepts, and some arecomponents of rhetorical structures.components of rhetorical structures.

TurnerTurner’’s account of double-scope storiess account of double-scope storiessuggests analysis of texts including integrationsuggests analysis of texts including integration““across levels,across levels,”” i.e. concepts with structures. i.e. concepts with structures.

Narrative discourse does not only arise fromNarrative discourse does not only arise fromthese rhetorical structures, however. It alsothese rhetorical structures, however. It alsoarises from causality, temporal succession, etc.,arises from causality, temporal succession, etc.,all addressed in blending theory.all addressed in blending theory.

Questions for DiscussionQuestions for Discussion

Can we provide a precise account of how Can we provide a precise account of how ““rhetoricalrhetoricalstructuresstructures”” such as conversation or types of narrative such as conversation or types of narrativediscourse play a role in blending?discourse play a role in blending?

Can we provide a precise description of how narrativeCan we provide a precise description of how narrativearises from a combination of vital relations, compression,arises from a combination of vital relations, compression,and the integration of narrative structures?and the integration of narrative structures?

Can we be more explicit about the mapping betweenCan we be more explicit about the mapping betweenstructural blending (integrating sign systems) andstructural blending (integrating sign systems) andconceptual blending?conceptual blending?

Can we distinguish carefully between integrating storyCan we distinguish carefully between integrating storyelements and integrating stories?elements and integrating stories?

ThanksThanks

Joseph Joseph Goguen Goguen for his for his advisorshipadvisorship, support,, support,collaboration, and ideas.collaboration, and ideas.

Seana Coulson Seana Coulson for organizing this meeting, andfor organizing this meeting, andfor conversations about this research andfor conversations about this research andblending theory.blending theory.

Gilles Gilles Fauconnier Fauconnier for support of this strangefor support of this strangeapplication of blending theory and his input overapplication of blending theory and his input overthe past few years.the past few years.

Rafael NuRafael Nuññez for support and manyez for support and manyconversations as I was his TA, and afterwards.conversations as I was his TA, and afterwards.

Walking Blues Changes Undersea

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