Kurt Vonnegut on the Shapes of Stories

[@ghwalsh90]

Kurt Vonnegut was a true artist with an unrivaled literary voice. This man lived an incredible life, one that will forever be immortalized in his many short stories, novels, and essays. The day after Kurt Vonnegut passed in 2007, I was set to give a presentation on Vonnegut's life and works in my high school english class. It crushed me to have to add "and so it goes" to the end of the presentation. This is one of my favorite of Vonnegut's speeches, wish I could have seen him speak in person!

[@drelouch544]

Reading "and so it goes" just sent a shiver down my body 🥲

[@st.charlesstreet9876]

Totally Agree! One of the Best literary voices around. Thank You Kurt Vonnegut ❤

[@Bobbieliz]

I did in circa 1980 at the U of Iowa. It was forever memorable.

[@ANDROLOMA]

And so it went.

[@melchiorvulpius8170]

This is really cool. It's like a cross between a college lecture and a stand-up comedy routine!

[@garfocusalternate]

+Jeff Weskamp What every college lecture ought to be, really.

[@pravinda333]

Well, sometimes the roles are reversed.

[@AAmoroso]

look up the video where he's older and it has spanish ("castellano") subtitles. he includes a shakespearean story "arch".

[@-RandomBiz-]

This story and the story of Hamlet can be found in his book a man without a country.

[@jacobkennedy1009]

Fun is our brains favourite way to learn 😁👍

[@Shockeye00]

Such a wonderful dry humor. He is one of my all time favorites. "Goddamnit!"

[@Goozeeeee]

"B" stands for beginning. "E" stands for... electricity.

[@shaunavincent8211]

Shockeye00 ya

[@susandaniels]

Mine too.

[@ChrisSchepman]

incredible.

[@esceotiti]

I was fortunate enough to attend one of his speaking engagements. I can’t imagine his take on these dark times… he is sorely missed.

[@gospelofrye6881]

Whatever his take would have been, it would have ended with: "And so it goes..."

[@danielledean8013]

I started reading Vonnegut when I was 15 and I have to say it introduced me to a huge amount of knowledge. There will never be another like him.

[@conorwellman8592]

I wonder how he would map out the curve for slaughter house 5

[@TonyQKingTQK]

@conorwellman8592 I pretty well know how he'd map a curve for one of today's slaughterhouses.

[@Tujdosen]

"Off-scale happiness" sounds a lot better than "lives happily ever after"

[@thatoneguy8525]

"Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt"

[@judymurray6312]

Wow! What treasure to have this lecture preserved. I didn't realize he had such a sense of humor.

[@jasminekeller1904]

His humor is a big part of him! His sense of irony and humor often appear in many of his literature pieces I highly recommend them.

[@andrewm3210]

If things had not worked out for Kurt Vonnegut as an author he likely would have had a brilliant career as a standup comedian. His jokes and timing are spot-on. I can imagine growing up watching a cutting-edge but very insightful sitcom called Vonnegut.

[@kstrehlo]

Elsewhere Vonnegut wrote 8 rules for the short story and ended it by saying that Flannery O'Connor broke all these rules except the first, and that great writers tend to do that. The first rule was "Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted." Vonnegut's stories always did that, although the dark irony of his stories often had characters near the bottom of the chart from B to E. So it goes.

[@litheq]

01:25 "Somebody gets into trouble - gets out of it again." He just described 'life'.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

Not mine. I'm stuck in trouble.

[@20000dino]

@@jamesmcinnis208 I think that's how it actually goes for most of us.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

@@20000dino That's how it goes.

[@3D6Space]

I love "off scale happiness"!!!!

[@davereynard]

I absolutely love this clip - I must have watched it 20 times and it still never fails to make me grin!

[@gsco82]

Kurt Vonnegut is my favorite author. I'd recommend any of his novels, but Player Piano, and The Sirens of Titan are particularily excellent.

[@Uilenstede48]

almost word to word similar to his lecture at the Case Western Univ when he's older. But damn … what do I care … if it isn't nice, I don't know what is! Thank you Mr. Vonnegut. You make my day, Sir!

[@jeffbosch1697]

Kurt may be gone but his humor and stories still entertain us. Thanks for sharing this fun lecture.

[@mountainashfarmhospitality5156]

Great writer and humorist. You Tube - our favorite people back in the moment to revisit for eternity. Thank-you computer.

[@CHUCK1213]

Thank you so much for putting this up ! I have read and reread Vonnegut's novels for many many years and have practically memorized his earlier works verbatim. He taught at the Famous Writer's Workshop at the University of Iowa in the same building where I took some writing courses when I was a chemistry student there and when I found that out, I was ecstatic !!! What a brilliant, funny, compassionate man !

[@jamesburgess6326]

Want some cool trivia? He worked at GE and knew Langmuir. His brother was a scientist there.

[@Bobbieliz]

During years I lived in IC 2 times in late 1970’s I found myself across the remainders table in the Book Store in the student Union from a fellow in an old crumpled raincoat and I thought that he looked a lot like Kurt Vonnegut ( my fave author). Then I went to a visiting lecture by him. There he was ! The fellow from the remainder table! He did photograph a bit different from in person. It was a great lecture! I think he must have visited friends from time to time.

[@doriswhite1348]

He is just so incredible. Thanks for posting.

[@ANDROLOMA]

Some of his works were brilliant. Short story recommendation is Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Some hard-core prophecy. And so it goes.

[@kaykap7]

I just love Kurt Vonnegut,

[@jdweekley]

One of the great humorists in American history... "What, incidentally, was a pregnant mother of two doing, operating a vacuum cleaner on Mother's Day? She was practically asking for a bullet between the eyes!"

[@isabelthedying]

Deadeye Dick? Also, now that I'm seeing that quote again, if it's actually the one I think it is, I'm realizing it might be a reference to the way people talk about rape.

[@grannydems5044]

Which narrative was this?!

[@jamesmcinnis208]

@@isabelthedying "actually"

[@jdweekley]

@skyhouse Well, he was pointing out how that women, even on the day they're supposed to be celebrated, still feel compelled to do housework, and for that, they deserve to be punished. It's a commentary on the unfairness of these kinds of gender roles and the place of women in society. It's classic Vonnegut.

[@belleyboy]

The "Oh God Damn It!!" @ 1:59 gets me everytime!

[@rushabhparikh4797]

The best kind of presentation lecture I've ever seen

[@chrisphan4566]

He's an icon, an inspiration, a teacher of life not only to artists and writers but to everyone, not only Americans but the world.

[@SergeantSquared]

Thankfully he was an American. *The majority of the rest of the world would have forced him to do something other than what he loved and likely killed him...* _Lovely socialism._ Most of his life's work was also here so most of his teaching was actually American only.

[@deadstraight3944]

funny how he was a socialist and even funnier was how you missed and contorted the original post into your own propaganda

[@theawesometiger9385]

...is that racist? Wow

[@SergeantSquared]

Deadstraight crazy... are you suggesting that his line of work was for socialism? Maybe you don't realize that what you're saying is that this lecture is a direct result of his wo4k for socialist propaganda then; which makes my comment all the more poignant, and you have justified my words despite your laughter. Problem is, the tools of propaganda have another, more well-known description with which you may be familiar, and I challenge you to show that I have used any of them; they are afterall more commonly known as *Logical fallacies.*

[@418Abdul]

And an astoundingly poignant comment it undoubtedly was.

[@ChicoChavez]

Can you imagine the horrible state your life must be in when you thumbs-down a 4 minute video of Kurt Vonnegut explaining fiction?

[@eriontufa]

Personally, that is inconceivable.

[@carriebecker5531]

Don't worry, that person is just the main character in that third storyline.

[@tothelighthouse9843]

Way way wayyyyyyyyy down on the G/I axis!!! So low that not even Kurt Vonnegut can offer his stairs up.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

What I can't imagine is caring if or how many people choose "thumbs-down."

[@-RandomBiz-]

@@jamesmcinnis208 you'll get over it. And if you don't it's no one's problem but yours.

[@jj27vv]

Love it. Have to keep coming back to it. My problem is trying to have all these plots running together - men in a mess.

[@wentale]

I wonder if that also fits the "series", pick the critical points to cut off the story so people keep coming back for more and inevitably end up at the happiness bar!

[@jj27vv]

I wonder if the series is as he has drawn ... all the patterns together as you follow different characters?

[@scriptr1tr]

I saw this lecture at the University of Kansas in the late 80's.

[@ellibarasch2997]

And I saw it at Rutgers University, Camden NJ around then, too. It was brilliant and hilarious.

[@misterhorse8327]

The same man who wrote the short story called "The Big Space Fuck."

[@justinsharp7377]

Vonnegut's "Oh, God damnit!" now lives rent free in my head.

[@sergeantmaymay4833]

This is a fantastic clip. It gives me some new ideas for my subreddit post, and for some new dank may mays. (tips hat in appreciation).

[@adharshvanchi]

***** such prejudice, much meanness

[@chemicalimbalance7030]

I, too, am above average intelligence.

[@RBBardy]

this is one of my favorite videos

[@thomcomcastrmt173]

OH, HE WAS SAYING "BOING BOING" NOT BORING!!

[@Vitrous]

you have achieved off scale awareness

[@jaxentheidiot]

yo man them subtitles say he sayin boring, not boring. just saying my guy.

[@MattWaltherNaught]

"...Oh God dammit."

[@amirdeen355]

He literally has better comedic timing than a lot of comedians!

[@Alkis05]

What a genius lecturer.

[@Captain_Mckeggor]

With new data mining techniques years later he was absolutely right we can now see the shapes of stories. :)

[@dsneddon9]

great visualization - I love it!

[@RobertoSabasArtist]

A humorous but effective (and useful) illustration and analysis of narrative structure.

[@markloveless1001]

I listened to this for a voice sample, trying to figure out his parts in Ken Burns' The Civil War. I was surprised - I didn't realize he was a Hoosier, and it answered my question. I stayed for the essay, and I'm glad I did.

[@seanworle]

Does anybody have more of this lecture, where he goes on to discuss the story curves of Kafka stories, aboriginal legends, and Hamlet? I've read about it, but I'd like to see him giving it, if I could find it.

[@JordanFrgsn]

If anyone is still looking, a longer version has been uploaded here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYCqo6iVad9kjMU

[@thc_goon]

Jordan Ferguson gracias !!

[@JordanFrgsn]

de nada!

[@-RandomBiz-]

This entire lecture is in his book a man without a country

[@violaweekend442]

what a truly remarkable man

[@bertaga41]

What a guy. So funny and so clever.

[@Bridg2Peace]

I LOVE this man. This was fun and brilliant.... Awesome.

[@scoldexperiment1554]

Man's explaining stuff I wouldn't have understood in the most humorous way possible

[@k-popprincess416]

The way he described the story of Cinderella made me smile!!

[@62flamenco]

What a genius he was! Brilliant!

[@evilartstudio]

Thank you for posting this - he is rad.

[@JohnNasaye]

I loved Kurt Vonnegut!

[@sudhindrak]

I think it is the reputation of the brilliant man that is driving the thunderous applause for what was otherwise a funny take on story arcs. Any takers for that appraisal?

[@Lazyguy22]

The one Vonnegut book I've read is Cat's Cradle, which I can't stand. I think this is hilarious.

[@BrassBoyz1]

slaughter house 5 is one of his best works in my opinion.

[@fayettevillainJD]

+Hunter Brass literally everyone agrees slaughter house 5 is 'one of his best works.'

[@ritapacheco8059]

+Alan Herrera Mother Night is amazing too! :)

[@sav1050]

Cat's Cradle, Bluebeard, & God Bless You Mr.Rosewater are excellent reads too!

[@melodramacaminante]

Thanks for uploading it.

[@hugotsunami3850]

Can we get the whole lecture? That would be fantastic

[@TheTaleKeeper0]

Excellent! Hilarious and highly insightful. Genius!

[@hansombrother1]

My favorite author ❤❤❤

[@CharlotteIssyvoo]

Excellent. Perfect for a first year course on the short story. You know, the unit in which you explain how artificial the traditional Western story structure is.

[@prans28]

I could't stop laughing after a really long time. So wonderful!

[@davidjaslow6458]

I always loved Kurt's Stories, He was the Best.

[@narrativepodcasts]

We call it "person in hole" these days for our course, but it's still such a useful way of giving a visual to something abstract.

[@SigmaChi04]

Great Scott! This is heavy.

[@Pahlko]

Shows how AI will never be a total curve. This man is ahead of his time. Always uplifting to watch this.

[@bootblacking]

1:58 gets me every time.

[@djordjeblaga7815]

+meadslosh me too! I think he's ironicly referring to his rule 6. "Be a sadist." :D

[@CaptCozy]

+meadslosh Me too. I just saw this in my writing class, laughing in the middle of class, and laughed even louder just now.

[@BillyxRansom]

"Oh, god dammit" Tears every time

[@therespectedlex9794]

Should we take him literally? I know we don't have to but...

[@shaolinpunkFTW]

Learned recently he was in the same POW camp as my grandfather... his book Slaughterhouse Five was inspired by that time.

[@gusty7153]

my god. the very fundamental structure of narrative is a trope in itself.

[@shockinghorrors]

"Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Vonnegut attended Cornell University, but dropped out in January 1943 and enlisted in the United States Army. He was deployed to Europe to fight in World War II, and was captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. He was interned in Dresden and survived the Allied bombing of the city by taking refuge in a meat locker of the slaughterhouse where he was imprisoned."

[@The_Hofol]

1:43 onwards. THE BEST REPRESENTATION EVAR.

[@WillPierce1]

Brilliant decomposition.

[@aerojockey]

Soon as he said, "we're gonna start way down here", I knew what story it was.

[@trojanhorse62]

This guy is a boss. Nothing more can be said.

[@Kitsua]

Love the Bach at the end too.

[@clarkbarrett6274]

In high school my friend and i both read Vonnegut books for a English class presentation. We decided that Cars Cradle and Galapagos were ant technolgoy stories. So we collected some scrap conputer bits (this was late 80s) and other electronics. We brought them and some hammers along to class. We did our presentation on the books and their meaning and wrapped up with several minutes of chaotic smashing of the electronics. We sent bits flying theought the class and our fellow students took cover. We raged and screamed but the otherwise elderly teacher was tickled pink. We got great grades, even though we really only intended to make a huge mess and have some fun. Mission accomplished.

[@dodopod]

Isn't Cinderella just boy gets girl (girl gets boy in this case), but stretched vertically?

[@Michael_Chernoff]

I don't think so due to magic interference. Cinderella does not strike it out the same way.

[@MisterF_1984]

this is absolutely fantastic!

[@alexcheng0808]

The piece that plays at the end is Variation 1 from Goldberg Variations by Bach.

[@JanKarney]

He is at the tope of my favorite authors

[@alexmathewmendoza]

an absolute genius. His stories make me laugh, cringe, and more importantly, think.

[@formusicplaylist1]

i've read cats cradle and slaughterhouse 5. i absolutely loved everything about them both. what vonnegut should i read next?

[@DreamseedVR]

Wow, this video has been wondering what the shape of the story of my life is

[@whatdoyoulivefor735]

That's a good thing to wonder, and decide 🙂

[@neilbarembaum1094]

So. Most stories can be described by trigonometry. Fascinating.

[@vincentpendergast2417]

He would have slayed at a TED Talk

[@lancec3]

Not to flex but...I have his son Mark Vonnegut as my pediatrician.

[@qwaskharjullalamber1441]

Jus let him know dat SACHIN a dude from INDIA is a HUGE fan of his dad!! Would love to receive a book Signed by his dad!! 😌... Lol

[@TheBigtonkss]

@@qwaskharjullalamber1441 sadly, he is no longer with us.

[@DreamseedVR]

It's a flex, he had tumultuous life and it's beautiful His son became a doctor. It's really not easy being an artist or a writer, And it's not easy on their families. Bless you both

[@hobbedgoblin10]

My mom’s weird friend introduced me to his books and they’re really good

[@plexitox]

I agree. "The Road" had some curve to it. Including several shocking spikes downward. Now "Lost in Translation" was an absolute flatliner.

[@singmysong4444]

Brilliant..... yet so simple. Love it!

[@unclepatrick2]

Agree, The Hamlet bit is the best part of skit.

[@pagamenews]

Were the people in the audience on laughing gas? Mr. Vonnegut was making a serious and legitimage point in his lecture. Anyone taking the time to digest this information and has the ability to express themselves with written words, could indeed earn a million dollars from the basic idea.

[@AlbertaGeek]

+pagamenews It is perfectly possible to make legitimate points and do so in a humorous manner, as Mr. Vonnegut does in this video. If you didn't laugh, you're probably the one in your social circles everyone says has no sense of humor.

[@TheRapidRadish]

This man can draw straight lines

[@ShutterSnapped]

And Cinderella and the Prince achieve off-scale happiness. The End. I like the sound of that.

[@1jckinnick]

Did Vonnegut ever teach? He would be a great teacher.

[@unclepatrick2]

@GiantPetRat yes one of the better writters out there

[@Ian-uu3dz]

does anyone know the name of the music at the very end?

[@scottdintelman7359]

We call this the Story EKG and use it to analyze stories at work.

[@catherineyang239]

Then there's Flowers for Algernon

[@tylerphillips503]

That's just one of the shapes in reverse

[@irongoat788]

interesting, absolutely fitting on fiction novel, but I wonder how it works on storytelling which is nonfiction.

[@ThePete1081]

irongoat788 I would say the curves help to determine whether a non-fiction idea is worth writing about. If there is a real life story that fits one of these curves, it could be made into a great book/movie.

[@irongoat788]

thank you sir!

[@joeyoshs]

Great video! What’s the name of that work by Bach played at the end? EDIT: Bach’s Goldberg variation 1

[@joeyoshs]

Nevermind, I found it it’s Bach’s Goldberg Variation 1

[@kiblespoop]

Where does Grave of the Fireflies fit into this? Does it start below B and just continue to go to the floor?

[@DataWaveTaGo]

For an exhaustive, pre-computer examination of this read Northrop Frye's many scholarly works or watch any of several lectures of his on You Tube. One book, "The Great Code - The Bible In Literature", examines how much of the West (even secularists) are "prisoners" of that work. With "Anatomy of Criticism" (1957) he illuminated the process of "belief".

[@sherrycrow07]

I am a professor at the University of Nebraska Kearney teaching a class on digital storytelling.May I have your permission to post this short video in my Blackboard course?

[@joyalasir]

permission granted

[@steventurnblade9168]

Interesting illustration.

[@juliagoga-cooke6168]

I love Kurt

[@dhwafkndcf]

FullSail brought me here. thumbs up for FulSail