Josh really, really likes this post, too.

What a beautiful and dense post. So much food for thought, in so many directions (this a revisit often for fresh insights post).

One thing I've logged in from your blog, Scott, keep core dilemma universal, to reach the audience. (Primary relationship issue good way to go. Certainly worked for Shakespeare.)

Bertolt Brecht took that reaching and teaching role seriously, engineered his stories to influence (course he wanted revolution, catharsis in the streets, which ain't sounding so bad).

The power of negative thoughts over time, eeek. So Monty Python done good, teaching us how to live in Life of Brian, always look on the bright side of life.

And my can the power of narrative structure to influence and shape be seen in our political discourse.

All of humanity's endeavors exist to locate us in universe, and have evolved greatly over time. Art is special, has stayed more direct, 1:1, artist to audience, direct line, pretty cool (use the force well, Luke). And storytelling the most direct and easily accessible of all. (Shout out Beowolf, you were the first, with your mommy issues.) That we still today use Aristotle's insights (from 300bc) on how to effectually frame a story to reach and move the audience is pretty darn cool.

And now we’re finding out how deep that influence really goes.

Ends up the nose likes a sweet narrative construction too (discover via io9) and Homer was right.