The Problem with Chaotic Fiction

As the author of the Unforums and one of the (I imagine) leading pioneers of ARG (or has he likes to call it, Chaotic Fiction), Spacebass obviously has a lot more experience and understanding of the genre-medium than I do. And after spending enough time interacting with ARG's and understanding the theory behind them, the author grew wary of the term "ARG" itself, as it does not properly convey what the "game" is all about.

I should probably preface this by noting that Spacebass's article is called "Undefining ARG", rather than "defining" ARG. Right from the beginning, "Chaotic Fiction" is therefore considered either an incomplete term (but MORE complete than ARG) or a term embodying a type of game so intrinsically malleable and fluid as to defy all definitions entirely.

Personally, I think Spacebass has a point. "ARG" does not thoroughly embody the concept of the game. But I would argue that "Choatic Fiction" goes too far, spreads itself too thin by attempting to define not only the process of the game itself, but the degree and type of narrativity/fictionality. Specifically, the etymology of the term "Chaotic" suggests a lack of control and unknown variables distorting the path leading from introduction to conclusion.

So chaotic fiction is a type of fiction where, assuming a premise is given by a particular author or authors, the conclusion of that premise is completely unknowable. Furthermore, "Chaotic" is a sliding scale, and certain games appear more tightly controlled than others, such as Uncyclopedia, which can scarcely be described as games and perhaps more accurately as collective open source fiction.

So the problem with Chaotic Fiction is that the definition, upon originally seeking to shed light on the complexities of the ARG (admittedly in a methodology similar to a Zen riddle more than anything else) transforms the ARG from a phenomenon into a narrative theory. Chaotic Fiction is a term describing a theoretical form of narrative where one or more key elements of that narrative are completely unknown to the original author. So by this definition, "Chaotic Fiction" might refer to a late-night game of D&D as much as it describes the process behind American Idol or the "narrative" of the Presidential Elections.

So it isn't that I disagree wholly with Spacebass. I think he's on to something. I'm just not sure Chaotic Fiction is a more precise term than ARG. But then, I don't think he ever believed the game/phenomenon/"thing" itself could ever be defined.

(Wow, is that ten blog entries already? Also, I just realized I've been called Spacebass a "he" when "he" might very well be a "she". If that's the case, I sincerely apologize. If there was a gender-signifier in today's reading, I probably glazed over it. Well whatever. Have a pleasant summer, everyone.)