Tag Archives what remains of edith finch

“Call me Ishmael.”

Three words and three times as many questions:

1. Why should we call you that name? Did you change your name? If so, why did you change or name?
2. Why is it so important that you announce your name immediately? Are you famous for something? Are you trying to be famous for something?
3. Who is Ishmael talking to? The reader? Am I being set up for an oration of a grand adventure?

These questions will seed a good narrative as long as the narrative delivers on the promise of answers. This balance of posing questions then teasing the reader with an answer then posing more questions, then more teases is what creates a narrative, and as long as this cycle is handled by a skilled writer, the reader will exhaust the entire novel and leave satisfied.

A question is a byproduct of interest and so becomes the impetus to investment. Humans love solving problems. Therefore, a question posed is an invitation to adventure.

With so much "top of the food chain" justification for humanity's many environmental exploits, it's impressive that we experience feelings of insignificance. But we do. These momentary lapses in bravado are testament to the strange ways of the human brain. Our ability to recognize our insignificance is matched by our ability to rationalize our significance. That’s a legitimate Catch-22 for you.

My cat is gray. But she was born black. An objective fact that you didn't care about has become a fact you do care about. That's how good narrative works.

What Remains of Edith Finch shows us that narrative can define and manipulate simultaneously, that story isn’t a matter of fact but rather a matter of understanding. And while facts may help us understand, facts alone are weak. Their power comes from how they are presented. This is why we have lawyers, afterall. This is why we have news anchors. This is why we have documentaries. Facts alone are weak. Facts change nothing. Facts need narrative.

Humans use story to justify their actions. Without justification other humans cannot anticipate action and therefore cannot form coherent societies and strong bonds within those societies. What Remains of Edith Finch narrows this concept all the way down to the family unit. This game explores how narrative can be used with good intent to form such bonds, but also how narrative can fracture trust by challenging facts.