Themes Are the Ghosts in the Machine

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i think it's a mystery wy works, you knowand i say in the book there's these thoughts about it. And that's not one of the inventions that i talk about in the book. Themes are the ghosts in the machine. No one has ever done anything because of a theme. It doesn't and this is, you know, again, wonth. I really like richard dakinsey might be one of my favourite thinkers of all time. But his obsession with meams is something that i do not share"

Michael speaks with neuroscientist and literature professor Dr. Angus Fletcher about 25 of the most powerful developments in the history of literature, from ancient Mesopotamia to Elena Ferrante. Fletcher says these literary technologies can alleviate grief, trauma, loneliness, anxiety, numbness, depression, pessimism, and ennui — all while sparking creativity, courage, love, empathy, hope, joy, and positive change. Fletcher is a professor of story science at Ohio State’s Project Narrative, the world’s leading academic think-tank for the study of stories. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.