Fictional Characters Research Articles

An Examination of Alcohol Use Disorder Among the Characters of Patricia Highsmith

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic disease with specific traits that connect to behavior, psychology, and physiology. This disease is especially prevalent among those within creative professions, which prompted further study into the effects of AUD on an alcoholic’s creative work. An examination of the incorporation of AUD within a female alcoholic author's work, particularly through the lens of Patricia Highsmith’s fictional characters, to cope with behaviors associated with AUD has yet to be accomplished, leading to this study’s purpose. A content analysis was conducted utilizing four indicating behaviors of AUD–codependency, neuroticism, binge drinking, and alcoholic terminology usage–that served as coding categories for 30 short stories analyzed. Data analysis showed that AUD was noticeably projected onto the fictional characters of Patricia Highsmith, with a total of 270 indicators identified. Implicit indicators–codependency and neuroticism–were projected within general written situations, and explicit indicators–binge drinking and alcoholic terminology usage–were projected within written situations that naturally trigger alcoholic behavior. Thus, it was suggested that AUD was projected onto the fictional characters of Patricia Highsmith in varying ways so as to cope with her alcoholic tendencies.

Why the Moral Equality Account of Hypocrisy Does Not Fail After All

The Moral Equality Account of Hypocrisy (ME) is a prominent theory of why hypocrites lack moral standing to blame. Hypocrites make exceptions for themselves and thereby implicitly deny moral equality, which is an essential premise of moral standing to blame. ME has recently faced challenges from philosophers who deny that it is the hypocrite’s rejection of moral equality that causes her to lose moral standing to blame. I have distinguished three main challenges which I discuss and rebut in this article: “The Internal Blame and Blame of Fictional Characters Challenge”, which I attribute to Todd (2019), and “The Hypercrite Challenge” and “The Inegalitarian Norm Challenge”, which are due to Lippert-Rasmussen (2021). The article begins by offering an account of ME. It fills in a few gaps in the theory, by explaining why it is necessary for a blamer to invoke a special right to blame and by determining the type of right that standing to blame is. It also distinguishes between the question of why hypocrisy is wrong or bad, and the question of why it undermines moral standing to blame. I hold that several theories provide plausible answers to the first question, but only ME has so far given a good answer to the second question. When distinguishing properly between these two questions, we see that ME can respond satisfactorily to the three challenges.

Embracing the mystery: David Hume's playful religion of wonder

AbstractIn this article I show how David Hume's works provide the ingredients for a conception of religiosity understood as a feeling of wonder concerning nature or existence, accompanied by a playful attitude regarding the imaginative shapes that can be given to this emotion. Hume serves as an inspiration rather than an object of study: I respect the spirit and values of his work, while going beyond his own explicit points. My reading accounts for Hume's aversion to traditional religions (‘superstition’), and for his acknowledgement of the universal attraction of the idea of invisible intelligent power and his own fascination with it. I argue first that superstition is a natural reaction to existential uncertainty. Second, I argue that uncertainty fuels activity, creativity and morality, and thus may be left untended. Though it always involves a measure of pain, too, human happiness is found in challenge and activity. Traditional monotheist religions respond to this need by generating experiences of wonder, thus, however, stimulating passive devotion and dogmatism. Opposing this, the suggestion of Hume's works is to respect the mystery of nature rather than shrouding it in unfounded convictions. The fictional character Philo illustrates how the longing for an answer by is itself can already be a profoundly religious feeling. Hume's descriptions of ancient polytheism and Philo show how this can be accompanied by a playful, imaginative interaction with the world.

Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) Games: Improving Negative Atmosphere with Social Robots and AI Teammates

Electronic sports show significant user churn caused by a toxic gaming atmosphere, and current GUI-based interventions are insufficient to address the issue. Based on the theoretical framework of Perceiving and Experiencing Fictional Characters, a new hybrid interaction interface and paradigm combined with tangibles is proposed to counter negative mood. To support the frustrated users of Massive Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games, we added AI teammates for better personal performance and social robots for the disclosure of negative mood. We hypothesized that AI teammates’ invisibility and anonymity would mitigate negative emotions; an effect amplified by the presence of social robots. A comparative experiment was conducted with 111 participants. Social robots for emotion-oriented coping improved user mood but AI teammates for problem-oriented coping did so better, although their higher levels of experienced anonymity may not have been preferred. Unexpectedly, conversing with a robot after playing with an AI teammate brought the mood back to that experienced when talking to a robot alone, while increasing the distancing tendencies. With this in mind, AI and social robots can counter the negative atmosphere in MOBA games, positively contributing to game design and empathic human–computer interaction.

Is Death Only the Beginning? How People Mourn Artificial Characters in Social Media

We analyze the audience response to the death of narrative-driven fictitious characters with predetermined fates, whether part of a virtual or cinematic story, and specifically from video games and TV series. Our aim is to contribute to the studies of identification and empathy with fictitious characters in media, as well as to close the research gap around these studies by specifically focusing on the death of the characters. We collected 3000 online comments on the deaths of 16 characters from video games and TV series. We coded each comment according to the five stages of grief by Kübler-Ross and Kessler and performed quantitative (using LIWC2015 psycholinguistic analysis software) and qualitative analysis (using thematic analysis). Overall, we found a strong resemblance between the processes of grief for real and fictitious characters and uncovered differences of language when discussing the death of a character based on (a) their gender; (b) their role in the story; (c) their interactivity mode; and (d) the form of media. Finally, qualitative analysis revealed unique and novel themes for on-screen deaths, such as (a) the effects of aural cues; (b) nostalgia and beauty; (c) resurrection and transmedia; (d) spoilers; (e) comparisons and real-life connotations; (f) the effects on the franchise; and (g) the effects of the gender of the viewer on these discussions. We discuss our findings in detail, along with implications for future character development.

Performance and fetishism in digital pornography

ABSTRACT While performance in pornography bears comparison with performance in mainstream cinema, there are significant differences. Viewers respond to a mainstream actor’s ability to convey emotional and psychological insight into her character. Acting in pornography is the opposite of that in mainstream cinema: regardless of what the ‘narrative’ may be, female porn stars emphasize their own personal ‘mannerisms' through repetition from video to video, investing little or nothing in character development. Porn categories overemphasize cultural notions about fetishism obscuring how actual viewers interact with porn. This article explores what we can learn about performance and fetishism in pornography, foregrounding how an overvalued image of a woman’s lips may have erotic meaning for a male spectator. Successful porn stars rely heavily upon their personal facial expressions of which they and the filmmakers may not even be aware, rather than following directions from directors or consciously adopting those of fictional characters.

Reconstructed multisensoriality. Reading The Catcher in the Rye

Summary In natural face-to-face interactions, verbal communication always occurs in association with expressions of nonverbal behavior. The functional contribution of these multimodal aspects to the meaning of the message and to its effects fulfils multiple communicative functions that differ according primarily to the speaker’s intentions, to the interpersonal relations between the speaker and the addressee, to the nature of the message, and to the context. When nonverbal behavior is reproduced in a written literary text, it becomes functional to the textual and narrative process as it serves as a signifier for the reader. A fictional character is never fixed and unchanging. Through writing, each author encourages the explicit or implicit evocation of a multisensory world, which readers decode and reconstruct, inevitably conditioned by their cognitive and cultural environment. In this paper, we refer to Salinger’s famous novel The Catcher in the Rye to analyze the literary valence of representing the characters’ multisensory communication, focusing on the core relationship between the explicit and the implicit parts in reconstructing the psychological depth of a literary character.

“If It No Go So, It Go Near So”: Marlon James and Collective Memory

Abstract Marlon James's A Brief History of Seven Killings fictionalizes a historical incident, the shooting of Bob Marley in Kingston in 1976, and the larger political, economic, and cultural forces that led to it and emerged from it. Real people can enter fiction and retain their names if they have already entered history or journalism—if, in other words, they are already part of a shared imagination. But there is a difference between the local Jamaican and global collective memories, a difference that determines which people keep their names and how people are remembered. People seek to enter the imagination of others, but to do so is also to risk being hollowed out and rendered imaginable, becoming a fictional character and less than a full person. But if there is only fiction, fiction also contributes to the collective memory. An awareness of the performative nature of identity and action is precisely how one can control how one is remembered and, just as important, how one eludes the imagination of others. A Brief History adds to the collective memory of readers everywhere but recognizes that Jamaicans already have their own collective memory, that they are self-conscious about what it means to come to the attention of others, and that they have always contributed to shaping the larger collective memory, including when they do not appear in it.

Graph‐Based Synthesis for Skin Micro Wrinkles

AbstractWe present a novel graph‐based simulation approach for generating micro wrinkle geometry on human skin, which can easily scale up to the micro‐meter range and millions of wrinkles. The simulation first samples pores on the skin and treats them as nodes in a graph. These nodes are then connected and the resulting edges become candidate wrinkles. An iterative optimization inspired by pedestrian trail formation is then used to assign weights to those edges, i.e., to carve out the wrinkles. Finally, we convert the graph to a detailed skin displacement map using novel shape functions implemented in graphics shaders. Our simulation and displacement map creation steps expose fine controls over the appearance at real‐time framerates suitable for interactive exploration and design. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the generated wrinkles by enhancing state‐of‐art 3D reconstructions of real human subjects with simulated micro wrinkles, and furthermore propose an artist‐driven design flow for adding micro wrinkles to fictional characters.

Teacher self-correction of conceptual error: Fictionalisation and shifting epistemological stance in early childhood education teaching

Teachers making errors in explanation that require subsequent self-correction is presumably common in education. However, it may be difficult to capture in research. In this study, teacher self-correction in the context of early childhood science education within a fictive frame was captured on video when documenting science activities over a prolonged time. How the teachers address the error they discover in their teaching and work in correcting it in subsequent activities are analyzed. The error identified and addressed concerns the distinction between a tornado and a dust devil (dust vortex). The empirical data consist of video recordings of teachers-children interaction in Swedish preschool. The participating children are 4 to 5 years old. The findings clarify how the teachers in addressing and correcting the conceptual error uses different semiotic means, with a particular emphasis on the coordination of gesturing and verbal explication when contrasting and explaining the different phenomena. The analysis also clarifies how the fictive character employed leads to a shift in epistemic status of the teachers to becoming co-learners with the children. How addressing and amending errors in explanation may function in deepening meaning making rather than working detrimental to it is discussed.

Exploring ‘Moana’s Achieved Identity’: A movie analysis of the main character

Research on identity status in literary works has not been in-depth exploration. Those researches discussed the identity status in general and were still very limited in literary study. Therefore, this study explores one of the identity statuses in detail using Kroger's (2005) achieved identity characteristics consisting of three domains; the personality variable, cognitive process and interpersonal relationship. Each domain has achieved identity features. This research is a documentary. The procedures were reading the script repeatedly; identifying the main character's actions, thoughts, reflections, thoughts, feelings, and desires; coding, classifying, analyzing and interpreting the data. The results indicated that Moana's personality, cognitive process, and interpersonal relationships proved that Moana's achieved identity in the three domains is well built. She has most of the features of achieved identity. This study also proved that identity status can be explored in fictional characters. Therefore, future research can explore this identity or other identity statuses in depth. Parents or schools can use movies with characters with this identity to help children develop their identity status to the highest, achieved identity.Keywords: Achieved identity,identity status, movie

Konstantin Semenovich Pigrov as an Epicurean of the 21st century (on the occasion of his 85th birthday)

We present to your attention a conversation about a wonderful person, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Konstantin Semyonovich Pigrov. For almost half a century he worked at the Faculty of Philosophy at St. Petersburg University (now the Institute of Philosophy of St. Petersburg State University). I have already had to interview him (“Philosophy of Creativity and Creativity in Philosophy: An Interview with Professor K.S. Pigrov, July 2010” [8]) and publish an essay about him (“Strokes on the Philosophy of Life and Work of K.S. Pigrov” [5]). Recently, Konstantin Semyonovich turned 85 years old and this was the reason for a topical conversation about him with my imaginary interlocutor, the cat Kuzyа. Of course, Kuzya is a fictional character that the author needed in order to create a more voluminous projection of the personality of the colleague under discussion on the reflection screen. Similar conversations with colleagues from the Institute of Philosophy of St. Petersburg State University (I.I. Dokuchaev, B.V. Markov) have already been published in Russian scientific journals, incl. in “Issues of Cultural Studies” [6; 7]. I thank the editors of the journal for kindly agreeing to publish such an unusual conversation about Professor K.S. Pigrov.

Perancangan Action Figure Lima Hero Hewan Khas Indonesia

Abstract The development of the film industry, especially Hollywood, which is currently a trendsetter, has introduced new prominent fictional characters. This is supported by technological advancements in graphics and computer visual effects. Animals are living creatures that are often used as references for the development of fictional characters, icons, and characterizations, not only in terms of physical appearance but also their characteristics. For example, this has brought about a new trend in the enhanced depiction of fable stories and also provides an opportunity to introduce unique wildlife from a particular region. It not only introduces local animals specific to an area but also enables the introduction of local culture. Indonesia itself has many regions that possess distinctive animals and cultural values with artistic significance. One example is the rhinoceros, which is an endemic animal of the western part of the island of Java (Banten), the buffalo from Sumatra (Padang), and the cockatoo from Sumatra (Lampung). At the end of this study, it will encompass the design of interesting characters inspired by the unique animals of Indonesia's regions, depicted as martial arts characters with distinct regional appearances. This aims to introduce not only the animal characters but also the culture of those regions. Keywords Wildlife; Endemic; Animal; Actions; Figures

Implementasi Model Pembelajaran Problem Based Learning Sebagai Keterampilan Menulis Deskripsi Siswa Pada Abad 21

The problem-based learning model as a student description writing skill in the 21st Century requires students to keep up with the times in the 4.0 revolution era. This study aims to determine 1). Problem Based Learning learning model as a student description writing skills in the 21st Century 2). How to apply the Problem Based Learning learning model as a student description writing skill in the 21st Century. This research is a systematic literature study, the research steps are to find articles that match two keywords, meet the inclusion inclusion criteria, pass the quality assessment consisting of an assessment of research questions, methodology, and research results. The results showed that by implementing the writing process in learning, the learning steps also used the writing process, including prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Learning Indonesian about writing descriptive texts for fictional characters, students learn new things, open students' knowledge that writing is not just a product, but writing also has processes including prewriting (prewriting), writing (drafting), revision (revising), editing ( editing), and publication (publishing).

The need for a Philosophical reading of African Literature

Literature permeates all the labyrinth of human experience. This is because literature acts as both a reflection and a reflector of society. Through the depiction of the life of individual characters the fundamental symbols and values which unite social groups across countries and in different periods of time are conveyed through literature. Important as this consideration may be, its full impact and import cannot be harnessed if they are presented as works of fiction. The main aim of literature as work of fiction is to entertain. Yet in the African context, especially given its historical burden with colonialism and its after affects, most African creative writers employ their work as weapon of social protest. How can African literature retain its fictional character, maintain its role of entertainment and yet act as a force in the re-ordering of African society? This is where philosophy comes in. As the discipline best equipped to guide humanity towards self-understanding by examining all issues confronting humanity and proffering the best solution, philosophy is employed here as the method to be used to extract ideas contained in African literature and subject them to critical evaluation in order to determine their usefulness and justifiability. This study finds that there is need for a philosophical reading of Africa literature. This study concludes that promoting and sustaining dialogue between philosophy and African literature is essential for African self-understanding and opening up new theories for understanding diversities and divergent issues confronting Africa.

Why Do People Use Informal Justice? Experimental Evidence from Kosovo

Abstract Why do some people resolve disputes through the state, while others use religious or customary justice? We address this question by conducting a vignette experiment in Kosovo. We design hypothetical situations in which fictitious characters are involved in disputes regarding inheritance, debt, domestic violence, and murder. We vary information concerning (i) vignette characters’ resources, (ii) their beliefs about the efficiency of state justice, and (iii) dispute settlement customs in the characters’ communities. Survey respondents assess whether a vignette character is likely to seek informal justice, given the described circumstances. We find that respondents associate informal justice with characters who believe that the state would resolve their disputes very slowly, and whose other community members would not use state justice. These findings generalize to respondents’ own justice preferences and patterns of actual informal dispute settlement in Kosovo and beyond. Our article highlights efficiency concerns and local conventions as explanations of informal justice.

Against the Precisificational Approach to Fictional Inconsistencies

Fictional realists claim that fictional characters like Spiderman exist in reality. Against this view, Anthony Everett (2005; 2013) argues that fictional realists cannot determine whether characters α and β are identical if the relevant fiction states that α and β are identical and distinct at the same time. Some fictional realists, such as Ross Cameron (2013) and Richard Woodward (2017), respond to this objection by saying that the sense in which α and β are identical differs from the sense in which they are distinct. In this paper, I argue that Cameron and Woodward cannot handle all cases without undermining the theoretical foundation of their approach, namely, the thesis that the identity of fictional characters must be determined by the content of the relevant fiction.

Empathy and Sympathy Learned from British and American Novels and Short Stories

Foreign literature courses, including both British and American literature, serve as compulsory and core courses for Chinese English Majors (CEMs). Literature courses make CEMs grasp aesthetic meanings as well as immerses themselves in a literary world, most importantly empower them to access different cultural experiences, and experience ups and downs of fictional characters. This article mainly delineates empathetic and sympathetic factors inherent in English novels and short stories included in literary textbooks used in foreign literature classes, such as A Guide to History and Anthology of American Literature, A Guide to History and Anthology of British Literature, Selected Readings in American Literature, and Selected Readings in British Literature. Some novice teaching staff usually find that the assiduous efforts they have to put into the teaching of foreign literature class is due to limited academic duration, numerous writers, countless literary works, difficult literary languages, complicated character maps, exotic life experiences, as well as a range variety of students’ demands and interests. This article aims to find out empathy- and sympathy-themed excerpts from the above-mentioned textbooks to help novice literature teachers to accustom themselves to the teaching of the courses, and even to realize a favorable teaching result. The effective pedagogy includes pre-teaching, during-teaching and after-teaching. The examples of literary texts contain both American and British writers. The exemplified text genre includes novels and short stories. The academics in literature courses can follow the suggestions and endeavors mentioned in this paper to better guide their teaching activities.

Prologue: Fictional Characters: Psychoanalytic and Literary Perspectives

Prologue: Fictional Characters: Psychoanalytic and Literary Perspectives

Epilogue: Fictional Characters: Psychoanalytic and Literary Perspectives

Epilogue: Fictional Characters: Psychoanalytic and Literary Perspectives