I too am interested in books on feminism that might appeal to a LWer.
I tried researching this, but I found one easy failure mode is to find books based on the assumption that everyone knows what feminism is about and agrees 100%, and what the reader wants is a list of people who were feminists at various times in history.
The angle I was more interested in was “feminists believe X because Y”, or “you, foolish person who is not a feminist, should be a feminist because Z”.
The Mating Mind and Spent by Geoffrey Miller delve into how signalling concerns pushed us evolutionarily into who we are and then how our evolved tendencies are disconnected with modern consumer culture.
Does Comeuppance give any clues about why Martin’s Game of Thrones series is so wildly popular? It’s a world with plenty of power maneuvering but little or no justice so far.
Flesch would argue it’s largely because there is so little justice in the books. We’re interested in tracking others through stories to see who deserves punishment. We remain emotionally involved to see what happens to them, and more injustices mean even more reason to keep tabs on what they’re doing. Anticipation of justice is more satisfying than seeing justice itself.
I have to admit there’s a character I want to see smashed flat. In normal fiction, he would be and I can’t count on it happening with Martin, but it still feels like a reason to read book six, when and if it comes out.
Does Flesch get into the difference between punishment and challenge? Either can be a strong hook for readers.
Can anyone recommend any books on signalling or on feminism that might appeal to a LWer?
I too am interested in books on feminism that might appeal to a LWer.
I tried researching this, but I found one easy failure mode is to find books based on the assumption that everyone knows what feminism is about and agrees 100%, and what the reader wants is a list of people who were feminists at various times in history.
The angle I was more interested in was “feminists believe X because Y”, or “you, foolish person who is not a feminist, should be a feminist because Z”.
Also interested in books that might appeal to a LWer. This Lukeprog post and comments from a while ago might be of interest.
On signalling:
Comeuppance: Costly Signaling, Altruistic Punishment, and Other Biological Components of Fiction by William Flesch attempts to explain what makes certain plots, or fiction at all, enjoyable through a signalling lens.
The Mating Mind and Spent by Geoffrey Miller delve into how signalling concerns pushed us evolutionarily into who we are and then how our evolved tendencies are disconnected with modern consumer culture.
Codes of the Underworld: How Criminals Communicate by Diego Gambetta
Your amazon links aren’t working.
Does Comeuppance give any clues about why Martin’s Game of Thrones series is so wildly popular? It’s a world with plenty of power maneuvering but little or no justice so far.
Thanks about the links.
Flesch would argue it’s largely because there is so little justice in the books. We’re interested in tracking others through stories to see who deserves punishment. We remain emotionally involved to see what happens to them, and more injustices mean even more reason to keep tabs on what they’re doing. Anticipation of justice is more satisfying than seeing justice itself.
I have to admit there’s a character I want to see smashed flat. In normal fiction, he would be and I can’t count on it happening with Martin, but it still feels like a reason to read book six, when and if it comes out.
Does Flesch get into the difference between punishment and challenge? Either can be a strong hook for readers.