Angus Fletcher

Angus Fletcher, a neuroscientist and narrative theorist, dives deep into the beloved children's series 'Paw Patrol.' He unpacks the cultural implications of the show, addressing its immense popularity amid criticism from parents. Fletcher discusses how the series influences children's creativity, highlighting a decline in problem-solving skills due to its simplistic narratives. He also connects the show to Canadian identity, revealing how themes of cooperation mirror the country's values. It's a thoughtful exploration of storytelling's impact on young minds.

Angus Fletcher, Professor of Story Science at Ohio State's Project Narrative and author of Wonderworks, dives into the transformative power of storytelling. He argues that stories not only enhance creativity but are tools for resilience and personal growth. Fletcher explores the connection between literature and spirituality, emphasizing how heroic narratives inspire collective identity. He also discusses how narratives help articulate complex human behavior, highlighting their therapeutic potential in coping with trauma and fostering emotional resilience.

Angus Fletcher, author of Wonderworks: Literary invention and the science of stories, discusses how to create emotional impact in creative work by revealing truths, creating tension, and using obstacles. He also explores the power of horror and suspense in art and the importance of focusing on the means rather than the end.

Guest Angus Fletcher, a literary scholar and neuroscientist, dives deep into the enchanting world of fairy tales, particularly focusing on Disney's 'The Little Mermaid.' He examines the balance of nostalgia and agency in Ariel's character, critiquing her transformation from a brave protagonist to a more passive figure. The conversation highlights the moral messages embedded in classic tales, emphasizing the need for modern retellings that empower young girls and challenge outdated notions of justice and femininity. It's a fascinating exploration of storytelling's impact on emotional development.

This week our guest is Professor of Story Science at Ohio State University’s Project Narrative, Angus Fletcher, who pulls on his background of literature and neuroscience to understand how brains and machines process story and narrative. Angus has recently made some extremely bold claims, including putting forth a proof that “even a sentient, self-aware, and infinitely powerful computer could never innovate” because it can’t engage in narrative thought. In essence, computer AI cannot replicate human creativity, and all of our expectations around self-driving cars and ChatGPT come down to a human-guided prank that pretends to do something it’s not really doing. In this episode, I obviously push back on this idea that narrative limits computer AI, but Angus makes some strong counter-arguments. Find out more about Angus and his work at angusfletcher.co  ** Apply for registration to our exclusive South By Southwest event on March 14th @ www.su.org/basecamp-sxsw Apply for an Executive Program Scholarship at su.org/executive-program/ep-scholarship Learn more about Singularity: su.org Host: Steven Parton - LinkedIn / Twitter Music by: Amine el Filali