Lesson 5: Casocot Technology Paralysis

Ian Rosales Casocot

• Teaches English and Literature at Siliman University

• Correspondent, PDI

• Graphic designer

Awards

• International Writers Program 2010 Resident

• Fellow for fiction in English in Writers’ National Workshop in Dumaguete, Baguio, Cebu, Iligan

• Con Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards Literature

• PBBY-Salanga in Writer’s Prize for Children’s Literature

• NVM Gonzalez Prize for Fiction

Works

• Old movies and Old stories (2005)

• Sugar loans (2008)

• Future Shock: An Anthology of Young Writers and New Literatures

Where was he at the start of the story?

• In Dumaguete for 3 years due to the pandemic/lockdown, where his social life was affected.

• He went to Cebu as a panelist in Literature Publishing and to Manila to receive his Palanca Award in 2022

• He felt surreal, anxious, and relearning

  • Alienating effect → He felt different and was not used to what he was before the pandemic

How does technology become a hindrance to him?

• Upon entering a coffee shop to complete his application, his laptop (Ava) was not working.

• He accepts the fact that it is the end of its life.

• He used his iPhone to finish his application, working for 7 hours instead of the usual 2 with his laptop.

• He stopped writing after that incident.

What was his regret?

He wasn’t able to back up his files and novels, even though his laptop was already showing signs of malfunctioning.

Marilyn Monroe

• 1st laptop

• Symbolizes the start of his writing journey

Bette Davis

• 2nd laptop

• Symbolizes the improvement of his writing journey

Ava Gardner

• 3rd laptop

• The broken one in the narrative and also the crucial

Constance Bennett

• 4th laptop

• Symbolizes new beginnings

Narrative Arc

• Called “story arc” or “dramatic arc”

• A literary term for the path a story follows

• A backbone that provides a clear beginning, middle, and ending

5 Basic Elements of a Narrative Arc

• Based on Gustav Gretag’s Work

  1. Exposition → Introduction

  2. Rising Action → Inciting or triggering event

  3. Climax → Highest point or tension

  4. Falling Action → Consequences

  5. Resolution → Ending

Exposition

Cascoto tells us where and who he is

Rising Action

Breaking down of Ava

Climax

Used an iPhone to write and bought a new one afterwards

Falling Action

He was able to write again

Resolution

Fresh start with Constance

Difference Of Plot, Narrative Arc & Character Arc

• Plot → deals with what happens

• Narrative Arc → path or sequence of the plot

• Character Arc → path of a specific character takes during that story

7 Archetypal Narrative Arcs

1. Overcoming the monster

2. Rags to riches

3. The quest

   • Trip or journey while overcoming the enemy

4. Voyage and return

5. Comedy

6. Tragedy

7. Rebirth

   • Transformation of the character