Darwinian literary criticism

Flipping through the most recent issue of New Scientist this morning I came across a fairly interesting review of a book about how storytelling shaped humanity- On the Origin of Stories: Evolution, cognition and fiction by Brian Boyd.

Here are some of the good bits:

Boyd argues that art, including fiction, is a unique human adaptation whose
chief function is "for improving human cognition, cooperation and creativity".
His excellent accounts of these three areas of human activity show both an
impressive mastery of the science and an admirable inclination to question
orthodoxy.

[...]

Boyd does acknowledge that stories need both creators and audiences, and he
analyses their different evolutionary roles. Taking a cost/benefit approach, he
argues that the process of creating a story may be expensive in terms of time
and energy but is intrinsically rewarding because it appeals to our brain's love
affair with pattern. It also reshapes the mind, promotes a creative approach to
problem solving and increases the storyteller's social status. The audience,
meanwhile, pay a price in their time, but in return acquire a deeper insight
into society and the minds of other individuals.This cognitive exchange,
however, requires attention. "

Art alters our minds because it engages and reengages our attention," Boyd
writes. This may sound obvious, but for Boyd it has sweeping implications for
the content of stories. For one, it means that surprise is crucial - fiction
must appeal to our evolved preference to pay attention to the unexpected. So too
are elements of the fantastical, the ability to take readers beyond the here and
now, and the capacity to engage their emotions and appeal to their innate
attraction to pattern.

And when I looked it up on the website in order to do a bit of copy+paste magic, there was a link from that article to an article about literary Darwinism. Read it if you like! It is basically about a developing way of reading that challenges the prevailing idea in the way we approach humanities that "Nature is nurture, or, put another way, our nature is simply to spoon up whatever culture happens to feed us - and we are what we eat." Relating fiction to the idea that the human mind is not a blank slate. I don't agree with everything in it, notably the gender stuff, and it doesn't appeal to some of my more romantic ideals about art. Also, it's just about this experimental branch of criticism. However, it's a mildly though-provoking form of synthesis, if you're into that sort of thing. Another weary step on the potholed road to some sort of conclusion re: nature vs. nurture? Perhaps. In a very specialised way. Maybe I will think some more about this in the morning...

In defence of the word 'cookie':

Like most good, kind and free-thinking Australians, I am generally anti-Americanisation language-wise. But I have just officially decided to make a permanent exception when describing choc-chip biccies, or any of those soft sweet baked things. 'Biccies' is fun to say because it makes me feel like an absolute Aussie and a sweet old nana, but amongst certain circles it just doesn't feel quite right. And 'biscuit' in its full form is nowhere near jolly enough. And according to the Online Etymological Dictionary:

biscuit
respelled early 19c. from bisket (16c.), ultimately (1330) from O.Fr. bescuit "twice cooked," alt. under infl. of O.It. biscotto, from M.L. biscoctum, from L. (panis) bis coctus "(bread) twice-baked."

cookie
1703, Amer.Eng., from Du. koekje "little cake," dim. of koek "cake," from M.Du. koke (see cake). Slang application to persons attested since 1920. Phrase that's the way the cookie crumbles "that's the way things happen" is from 1957.

Little cakes are cute! Sold! And "twice-baked" rather smells like inaccuracy to me! Also, the 'Biscuit Monster' would have sounded really menacing so the USA wins this round... Cookies for all peoples. However, 'lolly' still forever wins out over 'candy'. The former is derived from 1362, lollen "to lounge idly, hang loosely," perhaps related to M.Du. lollen "to doze, mumble," or somehow imitative of rocking or swinging. Specifically of the tongue from 1611. Which I think is hilarious and good. 'Candy' has evolved from the Old French sugar which evolved from Arabic from Persian from Sanskrit (probably) from Dravidian (possibly). Too much history! It overwhelms the simple sweetness!

So this is because I was eating a freshly baked cookie just then I was like, "Shit what do I call it?" then I decided what to call it, then I decided that this all required a public manifesto in the shape of a blog entry. Procrastinating? Who, me?

The Lucksmiths announced that they are breaking up today.

Fuck. By the way, I don't really use this blog anymore, and this is going to be a really pointless post, but I'm self-banned from Tumblr and I want to vent about this a little and I can't think of a friend who won't think I'm a moron if I call them all upset, so general internettage it is. Maybe someone sympathetic will stumble upon this, and and...

1993-2009. Sigh.

From- http://www.thelucksmiths.com.au/:

Dear Friends,

There's no easy way to put this, so please accept our apologies for the seemingly abrupt nature of this post. We are saddened to announce that after sixteen years as The Lucksmiths, the band has decided to break up.

The last few years have been an uphill battle in many ways, so this isn't a hasty decision based on any falling-out between band members, but rather, an acceptance of the inevitable. This decision was finally reached a few months back, so we've had plenty of time to let it sink in.

We had tried to operate the band in a way that would suit all of us, but at the same time we've been very conscious that too much compromise would in the end affect our creative output. We're very proud of the music we make, and we certainly didn't want it to start stinking. So, in taking our cues from Devo, we've decided to whip the proverbial cream before it sits out too long.

We're really excited about our upcoming European tour, and have booked some Australian dates for our "farewell tour" in August. The details for these shows are in our gig guide. We really hope to see as many people at these shows as possible, as we will be playing super long sets, cramming in as many old favourites as possible.

We must apologise for not making it back to the USA, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or Singapore, or to the other amazing European countries we've previously visited — and for never having made it to the other fifty or so countries we'd hoped to tour one day.

We really want to thank you all, especially the wonderful people who've helped us out in any way, and anyone who's listened to our music or come to a show. We've loved having you in our world and we will miss you dearly.

xo The Lucksmiths

An email from the Lucksmiths' label, Matinee Recordings, added, "Tali White, the band's lead singer and drummer, has decided to further pursue his career as a primary school teacher, while Marty Donald, Mark Monnone, and Louis Richter intend to head forth into new musical terrain whilst juggling parenthood, study and the fun-park ride that is casual employment." (Pitchfork)

Maybe it's just the stress and the everything and that I get silly about stuff, but I am trying to stop crying right now and it's difficult. School is bad and can only get worse. Gotta leave to go see Hamlet in half an hour. As much as I dig the play, really hope this production is teen-lite, as am so not in the mood for something depressing and long! Agh the trials and tribulations of the teenaged middle class, haha. "FML." Incidentally, The Lucksmiths are playing a show with Okkervil River in Melbourne this Sunday! Oh if only I lived there and was 18 and not in school and shit.

The upside is that they're playing a farewell tour with Darren Hanlon supporting. The other downside though is that that Factory gig is on the 21st of August which is EXACTLY in the middle of HSC Trial exams, which are the ones that actually count at my school. And also I have seen them live before only once but they were supporting Hellogoobye and HGB fans are insanely rude! But that time was really good anyway and I met Tali afterwards and he was so sweet. "There seem to be alot of people here tonight who have fridges!" Nawhh.

P.S. If you don't know who they are what you should know is they are super cute and their songs are "redolent with ordinary minituae". As The Vine puts it:

The bands live shows became legendary, as much for the hilarious interplay between the three members - guitarist Marty Donald, bassist Mark Monnone and drummer/lead vocalist Tali White - as for their signature tunes. With Monnones's bass bubbling away alongside White's deft snare and cymbal work, (lead guitarist Louis Richter joined the fold in 2004) it was Donald's wry lyrical observations and razor sharp wordplay that elevated the band to cult status. His tales of simple vices and local lifestyles easily elevated to universal level, pathos streaked with kid humour and bittersweet nostalgia. Or as Wikipedia pithily puts it:

Songs by the Lucksmiths are mostly about love and relationships, but also deal with other everyday issues such as notable friends or warm weather.

You may be stupid Wikipedia but, sometimes, you are also right.

Thank you for the music guys!

((EDIT: The Sydney show is in fact 18+ only. Frignuts.))

((Double Edit: No it's not! Fuck school, we're going!)