Sundays are often a time for reflection and creative pursuits, as this week's 'Sunday Papers' roundup suggests. The author muses on the potential of interactive fiction tools like Twine, humorously imagining undergraduate revision notes preserved as text adventures and recalling personal boxes of index cards that could form a navigable maze. This contemplation on interactive narrative is juxtaposed with observations about the end of the growing season for tomato plants.
The collection also highlights several pieces of critical writing. An essay by Dana El Kurd for Current History delves into the complexities of silence and inheritance in the context of Palestine, exploring personal connections to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the difficult questions it raises about coexistence and identity. In the London Review of Books blog, Iza Ding examines the film "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East," comparing its portrayal of the Iraq war to Hollywood's interventions, noting a Chinese perspective that humanizes American soldiers while depicting the devastating impact on Iraqis.
Further critique comes from John WM Thompson, who discusses Mike Flanagan's adaptation of "Carrie" and the trend of bowdlerization in horror narratives, suggesting a similar sentiment is creeping into video games with the rise of "cozy horror." Thompson argues that while audiences might appreciate deeper, more tragic storytelling, market pressures often favor lighter, more commercially viable content.
The roundup also addresses contemporary social issues. NHS England's decision to ban trans women from female-only wards is discussed in conjunction with an essay by Ash Lazarus Orr on "why trans people deserve to be boring." Orr argues for the freedom of marginalized individuals to exist without the constant burden of being perceived as sympathetic or extraordinary, advocating for the right to be imperfect.
Finally, Arundhati Roy contributes an essay for Equator examining the North American tech billionaire class and generative AI. Roy critiques industry calls for regulation and discusses the ramifications for workers in developing countries, particularly in India, highlighting the environmental and labor costs associated with the massive energy demands of AI infrastructure. The piece contrasts the industry's pursuit of advanced energy solutions with the current exploitation of resources and labor on Earth.