Trope Talk: Those Dang Phones

Overly Sarcastic Productions・2 minutes read

Communication technology has fundamentally changed human interaction, impacting how writers portray communication in fiction. Modern advancements in communication spells in fantasy games mirror real-world technological progress, influencing both fiction and reality.

Insights

  • The evolution of telecommunication technology has significantly impacted human interaction, shaping how we connect and communicate with others, leading to a normalization of instant and constant contact through various devices.
  • Fictional storytelling often mirrors real-world communication advancements, with authors integrating personal experiences and technological developments into narratives, showcasing how communication technology influences the portrayal of interactions and relationships in fiction.

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Summary

00:00

The Evolution of Communication in Storytelling

  • Communication is a complex and fascinating aspect of human interaction, with technology playing a significant role in shaping how we connect with others.
  • The ability to record and replay messages through various devices like cell phones, tablets, computers, or TVs highlights the advanced telecommunication systems we now take for granted.
  • People quickly adapt to new technological advancements, integrating them into their daily lives and considering them as normal, even though the underlying technology is quite remarkable.
  • The impact of social and technological environments on our perceptions of reality and relationships is profound, influencing how we view ourselves and those around us.
  • Communication is a vital element in storytelling, with plots often revolving around characters' abilities or limitations in conveying information to one another.
  • Miscommunication, dramatic irony, and characters being out of contact create tension and drive many storylines, emphasizing the importance of effective communication.
  • The evolution of telecommunications technology has significantly altered our concept of normal communication, with instant and constant contact becoming the expected standard.
  • Modern stories increasingly incorporate magical or technological means to enable characters to communicate effortlessly over long distances, reflecting our current reliance on instant communication.
  • The convenience of instant communication in storytelling presents new challenges and opportunities for writers, allowing for complex plots and character interactions that were previously unexplored.
  • The shift towards constant communication in narratives prompts a reevaluation of past storylines, questioning why characters did not utilize similar communication methods that are now commonplace.

10:27

Evolution of Communication Tech in Fiction

  • Sci-fi genre is rooted in worldbuilding futuristic visions, while fantasy often features magic mirrors, crystal balls, or psychic visions.
  • Modern "magic cell phones" in stories reflect real-life communication technology, influenced by writers' personal experiences with technology.
  • Writers tend to give characters communication abilities similar to their own experiences, adapting to changing technology.
  • Communication technology has fundamentally changed human interaction, impacting how writers portray communication in fiction.
  • Historical sci-fi and fantasy works often featured advanced communication tech, like wireless telephones and magic pictures.
  • Real-world communication technology advancements, like walkie talkies and mobile telephone service, influenced fictional depictions.
  • Fictional communication tech often lagged behind real-world developments, with some works failing to predict the impact of instant communication.
  • Sci-fi works like Star Trek and Dune introduced advanced communication devices, reflecting real-world technological progress.
  • Ursula K. LeGuin's "Ansible" device allowed for instant interstellar communication, shaping her fictional world's communication dynamics.
  • Real-world technological advancements, like pagers and video calls, influenced both fiction and real-life communication practices.

21:14

"25-Word Spell: Game Communication Evolution"

  • A spell allows individuals to send and receive 25-word messages to anyone they know across the universe.
  • This communication spell can be used to contact missing or captured teammates, absent parents, or anyone from the player's past.
  • Players use this spell to stay connected when separated in the game, initially intended for party communication.
  • The spell was not designed for long-distance communication in earlier editions of the game.
  • Various spells like Message, Magic Mouth, and Magic Mirrors were limited in their communication abilities.
  • Second Edition AD&D introduced more communication options like Whispering Wind and Messenger.
  • Sending, a fifth-level wizard spell, allows a 25-word message and response to anyone familiar to the caster.
  • Newer editions of the game have explored the full potential of long-range communication spells.
  • Abilities like Rary's Telepathic Bond and sending stones offer more flexible communication options.
  • The evolution of communication technology in fiction reflects changes in real-world communication norms.

32:02

Impact of interconnectivity on low-tech fantasy storytelling

  • The text explores the unintended consequences of introducing high levels of interconnectivity in a low-tech fantasy setting, delving into how social and technological norms influence fiction and analysis of tokenized stereotypes, media aging, political storytelling, and the death of the author, highlighting the evolution of norms and the impact of real-world developments on storytelling.
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