Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with theory

determine key from chords

crapples — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:18:38 -0800

Given a set of guitar chords, I want to know how I can determine what key a song is in. For example, if I play a song using the chords C - D - G, how can I figure out what key I'm playing in? What if I play Am - G - C - F? Or any other set of chords that sound good together? Is there a trick or calculation that will give me the answer? Does it get harder if I'm using sevenths, minors, ninths, or whatever else?

How can apply game theory to help me negotiate a better deal?

matholio — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:45:47 -0800

How can apply game theory to help me negotiate a better deal? I've handed in my notice, I have a new job to go to.
I gave 4 weeks notice, but on reflection it's going to be a while before I can take an anual leave, I'd like to take my last week as leave (I have accrued enough time)

This is week 2 or 4 of my notice period.

I really don't want to work the last week, I want to spend time with my family.

Management does not want to give me the time off, they want me to use the time dumping my knowledge, and handing over to a contractor who starts next week.

I have a lot of local knowledge of my domain, and losing that knowledge presents a businiess risk, so they want to keep me as long as possible.

Denying me the last week off, demotivates me, so maybe the hand over will be low quality.

If the handover is considered bad, they can give me a unfavorable reference.

They have no way of knowing if the handover is good.

I could do a great handover and they may perceive it to be not good enough.

I have been a hard working, loyal employee, I have agood relationship with the C-Level leaders, I don't want to sour it.

The remaining time is not really enough time to do a great handover anyway.

If I work the last week, they have to pay out my accrued annual leave, if I go early they don't.

I could spend my last week, reading metafilter.

-------------------------------------------

How might I attempt to model that data, and use game theory to assess various outcomes ?

I would think they would opt to motivate me to do a good hand-over in less time and let me go early, saving some money.

Thanks

What conversation topics put a man on the Friends Ladder with women?

harwons — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:13:31 -0800

As a man, does talking to a woman about your adventures with other women put you on the friends ladder? So there's the Ladder Theory, which, let's face it, applies to most women (they don't want to endanger the friendship with a man by sleeping with him).

A woman with whom I talked frequently (including about our past dates and partners) once told me "I can't have the hots for you because we talk more than we fuck".

My question is: which parts/topics of conversation between a man and a woman put the man on the Friends Ladder?

Trying to locate a picture

twistedmetal — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:31:58 -0800

Please help me find the most romantic equation I need help in locating a picture.

A few years ago, I read a blog post about "The Most Romantic Equation."

It was a framed rectangular picture of a physics equation that describes string theory.

Underneath the equation was an explanation (IIRC) of how this formula was the most romantic equation. The explanation read that no matter how far apart two objects are, they are always in communication and will react instantaneously to changes in each other. Basically, no amount of distance will ever keep them apart.

I believe there was a way to order the print.

I cannot find this at all.
My Google-fu has failed.

Can anyone help me locate this framed picture?

From Theory to Practice

AvailableName — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:48:48 -0800

How can I learn to apply theories and concepts that I learn to real-world situations? I love learning new things. I learn and comprehend concepts and theories fairly easily. However, I find that I often stumble when it comes time to apply these.

As an example, I'm a programmer and I know Object Oriented principles, theories and best practices, but only because I've read about them. When I go to write a program, I can't make the connection between the concepts and the problem I'm trying to solve. I feel I don't know how to connect all the theoretical pieces together.

Has anyone out there overcome something like this? Any tips on how I can be a more practical person, using the knowledge that I have. Am I touching on the whole knowledge vs. wisdom thing? Are there general or programming-specific methods to going from theory to practice?

Flats and sharps in music theory

stenoboy — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:42:08 -0800

In music, why does the key of F have a B flat and not an A sharp? Is there actually a difference, or is it just musical tradition that a flat is used in this key and not a sharp? Likewise with the other key signatures: why doesn't the key of G have G flat in the key signature instead of F sharp?

Whence the Dylan fourth?

dfan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:46:23 -0800

Where did Bob Dylan's use of the fourth scale degree originate? One of the more interesting aspects to me of Bob Dylan's sound is the way he resolves a lot of his melodies on the fourth scale degree against the tonic, which is classically considered to be very dissonant.

He does it all over the place, but the best examples I can think of are in "Like a Rolling Stone" (many places, but especially 'how does it feel>' going into the chorus and "Absolutely Sweet Marie" ('Where are you tonight, sweet Marie?' You can try to pretend that it's a major third sung really sharp, but it really has a completely different quality.

This usage sounds totally distinctive to me and I can't think of anyone else who does it, but I keep wondering if he picked it up from anywhere else, especially possibly in the field of folk music, which I know nothing about. Can anyone shed any light on the history of the 'Dylan fourth'?

How common are pay for download warez scams?

figTree — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:01:49 -0800

Are warez sites that are a "one time payment for unlimited downloads" basically all a scam? I was bumping around the net yesterday and was running into a lot of warez sites that all want a one time payment of about 5 bucks for unlimited downloads from their database. I'll skip any example links, but im sure anyone could find this type of thing.

So what is the deal with these types of warez sites? Are they any more or less "safe" than a normal piratebay type torrent site?

I assume they just charge more than they say they will for whatever small print reason - I mean, why would anyone have trust in such a site? But i would also assume that they actually deliver some sort of product.

I am generally fascinated by the warez world as it is something that is quite paradoxical. Its hard to find any sort of valid theoretical discussion about them anywhere, yet they exist a dime a dozen. I guess its mostly young high school guys that keep most of it in motion - but thats only an assumption. So i guess my follow up question is if anyone knows of good resources that talk more theory and academic discussions on warez in general? Anytime I try to search for this sort of thing, all i get is actual warez download sites. Thanks!

What can you tell me about 'Poe(t)heory'?

0bvious — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:51:54 -0800

What can you tell me about 'Poe(t)heory'? I have found little online regarding Poetheory, but it seems to be interchangable with the title 'Theorypo'. How separate a distinction is it from merely 'postmodern theory and poetry'? What sources of info should I be seeking?

Marjorie Perloff and Peter Jaeger are names that crop up regarding poetheory. Anyone else you know of or any related disciplines/schools/concepts?

Thanks

What's that Word

Student of Man — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:44:41 -0800

What is the word or Phrase for a situation where competing persons become emroiled in a "sub game "? A different level of competition, so to say. Relates to game theory somehow. It may or may not include the word "pareto". Thanks.

Looking for detractors of Literary Darwinism

0bvious — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:45:07 -0800

Literary Darwinism: A relatively new field of evolutionary psychology / literary theory. What has recently been written in argument against it? I have read through some of the works of:

Joseph Carroll
Ellen Dissanayake
Jonathan Gottschall
Robert Storey
Michelle Scalise Sugiyama

...and a few others, yet I am having a hard time finding critical work designed to bring down the arguments of Darwinian Literary Studies. It appears that the field of Poststructuralism is one of the main targets of Literary Darwinism's (Lit-Dar) proponents.

Has anyone attempted to re-address the balance?

I have found little in Lit-Dar writings about specifically text and textuality, something the Postmodernists very much conern themselves with. Surely there is some work on the subject that addresses its absence from Lit-Dar writings?

(I am not interested in the critique of Evolutionary Psychology - of which there is plenty - unless it specifically addresses the Literary and Textual concerns of Darwinian Literary Studies.)

Thanks a lot

Entropy and Software Projects

gttommy — Sat, 10 May 2008 10:34:56 -0800

The 2nd law of thermodynamics (entropy theory) has been applied to information theory, economics, natural selection and human behaviour. How do I relate it to software projects? It seems from a variety of sources that entropy theory has been abstracted and used to model many areas of life other than the physical sciences. It is quite fascinating. I'd like to know how software development projects can be modelled using this theory, preferably in a mathematical sense, as opposed to metaphors.

Any ideas or links from the hive mind?

How do you know what this photograph means?

b33j — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:55:40 -0800

I'm looking for websites that analyse the work of successful or well known photographers in the art genre (as opposed to documentary or portraiture styles). Building on this earlier question , give me some links that tell me not what makes a photograph good, but what this artist is saying, what envelope is being stretched, what's the metaphor, what School influenced or is represented by this work, what's special about the use of space, colour, and other analyses that I don't know that I'm looking for.

The Photography Book is an example of what I'm looking for (except it's a book and it covers pretty much all genres).

Bonus question: If there's no artistic statement, how can anyone be sure that the artist is saying X?

Smallest Number of Words To Be Deemed A Dictionary?

vanoakenfold — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:59:13 -0800

LogosFilter: Could a blog entry that contains two words and their definitions be consistent with the definition of a dictionary? In looking up with word dictionary, I most often find something along the lines of "a collection of words.." as far as quantity, but nothing further than that besides "a selection of words" or "a list of words" which to me would be at minimum, two. Is two of something a collection? How many of something must one have before it is deemed a collection?

COPS watching kids become cops like COPS but not like cops

nemoorange — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:44:04 -0800

Help me identify this Post Modern cultural theory. Prime example: cops on the TV show COPS act differently than they normally would, since they're being filmed for TV. Kids watch COPS thinking that's what cops actually are like. Kids eventually grow up and be cops themselves, emulating cops-on-TV, not "true" cops. 3 years ago, I had a discussion with a college professor who brought up this new theory in relation to a paper that I was writing, focused on Post Modernism. I distinctly remember that he provided that kids/COPS example. I believe he referenced a specific author--with an accompanying book most likely. It's not just Post Modernism, but perhaps a deep slice into it. I believe the author had named it. It sounded something like "dialetics" (don't think so, but this could actually be it) or "dianetics" (um no). The cultural theory must be relatively new, nice it uses COPS as an example.

Can anyone identify what I'm talking about? I'd love to read up more on this school of thought. It seems quite applicable in this day and age of living in a mass media echo chamber.

Examples of Mise en Abyme (in form)

0bvious — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:57:37 -0800

Recursion filter: I recently came across the phrase 'Mise en Abyme' and have become fascinated by recursion in literature, language and film. What writings have used these themes in their form to address the questions they posed? The idea of presenting the form of a text/film/critique so that it exemplifies the question posed fascinates me (so for instance, if I asked 'what is recursion?' and my essay contained a footnote which refered back to the text which then refered back to the footnote, then in some simple sense I have a form of recursion in my essay).

What writers, film-makers etc. have integrated aspects of Mise en Abyme into their work in this exemplary manner? (I am more interested in non-fiction pieces, but realise that a lot of fiction out there which has used this technique are formally very unique.)

I have a copy of Gödel, Escher, Bach sitting on my bookshelf, staring at me. I am also well versed in the works of Foucault, Barthes and Derrida.

Thanks for reading

How Things 'Become': The Infinity of Definition

0bvious — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 09:18:41 -0800

I am looking for writings on the infinity of definition. I am interested in the exponentially divergent curve that is definition.

We create writings and art to better define the world, yet true definition is infinite.

We mediate the universe by erecting borders of definition, i.e. all striped, four-legged, hooved mammals are probably zebras. We categorise the universe into hierarchies, but the more we examine the more pronounced and expansive these hierarchies become.

Language is our greatest defining tool. Yet, the metaphors we evolve to expand the potential of language can themselves only be made to refer back to the language which created them. An infinite loop emerges in most definition.

As new technology emerges we use it to 'add' meaning to artifacts which are already partly defined. By looking at the world with ever more refined microscopes we bring reality into greater clarity. This metaphor can be expanded to refer to texts, art, archaeology, culture etc.

Who has written on the problem of definition? What critical theory has been written on the emergence of infinity?

This question adds on to past questions I have asked at MeFi including (in reverse order):

- Art and artifacts experienced through technology
- The mimetic and narrative capacities of artefacts
- Examples of 'The Infinite' in Myth and Their Effect on Conditions of Truth

Here's hoping you have some ideas...

Help me overthink sex and romance.

bubukaba — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:35:49 -0800

What are some good books/essays/articles about human sexuality, sexual and romantic relationships, and sexual or otherwise affection-entangled activity - with an emphasis on the theoretical? I'm thinking more along the lines of Judith Butler than The Joy of Sex - so suggestions should be at least vaguely academic. (Things like Leaves of Grass count as vaguely academic). I'm asking for personal, not academic reasons - I'd like all the seemingly irrational stuff surrounding the emotional, social, psychological (and so on) aspects of this sort of thing to make more sense to me (or at least I'd like the fact that they're irrational to make more sense...).

In spite of my namedropping in the above-cut FPP, I haven't read much on these subjects, so even the most basic suggestions are welcome.

Getting jail time in california?

SECONDHANDSMOTE — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:04:56 -0800

What would a person have to do in order to get a one year jail sentence in the California penal system. I'm working an idea, and I need someone to disappear. What sort of crimes could a person commit that would have a high probability of landing them in the slammer for a period of (around) one year. I'm thinking California, but I'm not set on it. Non-violent crimes would be useful.

Colour Theory and HSV Contrast

gaby — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:50:57 -0800

Colour Theory: I have an ActionScript 3 project that has models that wear changeable clothing, where the style and colour of the clothing can change. The clothing is composed of several layers (colour, border, details) and there are preset colours for the 'colour' layer. When the colour layer changes I need to automatically calculate a contrasting colour for the border layer. I know this involves the HSV colour space but I'm struggling to get good results. The mechanic is simple, click to change the clothing on the model. Each item of clothing is composed of several layers:

- colour, the main shape of the piece of clothing
- border, the outline of the element, showing folds, creases, seams, etc
- details, extra elements like buttons, zippers, etc

There are a set of predefined colours for the colour layer so changing the colour of the clothing should result in changing the colour of the border. By default the border is a dark colour, somewhere between black and white. If the clothing changes to a light colour, the dark border works fine. If the clothing is changed to a dark colour the border then blends in with the colour and looks terrible, the clothing just looks like a dark blob.

The solution is to pick a contrasting, neutral colour for the border layer. I've tried to do this by converting the colour to HSV values then picking a colour where h=0, s=0, v=(255 - current v). This should give a contrast but it results in mostly greys.

Is there a better way to programatically calculate a good, contrasting black/white shade for the border? I have written a class that converts freely between HSV, RGB and Hex so I can work in any of those colour spaces. I think HSV is the best one to work with but I'm struggling with the logic of how to alter the S and V values to get a good contrast.

Do any podcasts exist that deal (fairly) rigorously with literary/media theory and/or continental philosophy?

scarylarry — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:02:23 -0800

Do any podcasts exist that deal (fairly) rigorously with literary/media theory and/or continental philosophy? I miss the theory courses I attended in college. I also love podcasts. I'd like to find something that combines these two interests.

I'm looking for something that deals with theory at a level of rigor akin to that of an undergraduate classroom. I'd love for it to wrangle some of the big poststructuralist, postmodernist, and postcolonial thinkers and their critics: Derrida, Foucault, Deleuze, Lyotard, Jameson, Spivak, Chow, etc.

It would be nice to find something either similar to KCRW's bookworm, but with a critical theory bent, or like the Philosophy Bites podcast. I love Philosophy Bites, but they concentrate more on classical and analytical philosophers.

Any leads? Thanks a lot!

Art and artifacts experienced through technology

0bvious — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:00:33 -0800

How is the meaning of art and artefacts being altered by the methods we use to: Experience, Define and Preserve them... In other words, in what ways have technologies been used to experience, re-define and/or preserve art and artifacts? I came across news on a technique using terahertz radiation to 'see' under the surface of paintings and murals. I know that similar methods have been used before, most especially to see the sketches under (Leonardo da Vinci) paintings or to map the outline of archaeological sites by satellite etc. I am interested in amassing a collection of such techniques, not limited to paintings and certainly from a wide spectrum of scientific and technological applications (for instance: art includes literature or music, artefacts can refer to objects or cultures, a new technology may simply be a new theory of linguistics).

Any links and or examples, books, journals, people you know of would help me immensely. My past questions express quite neatly the kind of reading background I have, please give them a glance if you have time.

Thanks muchly...

I am mroe itneillegnt tahn you

Corduroy — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:00:32 -0800

Waht is the nmae of the teorhy taht olny the frsit and lsat lttres of a wrod msut rmeian itnact for smoenoe to raed the wrod?

Help me use game theory to better understand my workplace

brandnew — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:12:46 -0800

Help me use game theory to better understand the seemingly irrational behavior at my workplace I have a fascination with trying to understand the behaviors of my co-workers in the context of game theory. I love the workplace - it's a wonderful zoo of seemingly odd, irrational, and puzzling human behavior. I have my own anecdotal theories about why things play out as they do, but I'm looking for more solid scientific evidence and theories. Basically I want to understand the rationality behind my co-workers' seemingly irrational behavior.

For example, one curiosity I have had lately is for those co-workers who voluntarily dilute their salaries by working long hours. Interestingly, they often seem to be the same people who nit pick about their starting salaries down to the hundredth dollar. I remember reading long ago about a game theory called something like "jackpot theory". Supposedly a reason workers work long hours is in anticipation of obtaining their bosses' salaries. However, often, like the casino games, the odds are largely against them.

What are some sites or books I can use to better understand workplace game theory? Who are the major research bodies for this area of research? What are some of the more interesting game theories that have emerged recently? How does one use this information to "game" the system?

BTW I have a science and math background, so I'm not afraid to read research papers, if necessary.

The mimetic and narrative capacities of artefacts

0bvious — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:58:58 -0800

I am interested in the mimetic and narrative capacities of artefacts, how cultural remnants transmit information through time and how meaning is translated once an artefact is re-appropriated or examined from a new perspective. I have several avenues of study at the moment (a list in extended explanation), but would like some more ideas. Areas of critical theory, linguistics, evolutionary psychology and poetics are all relevant. I want to show that the narratives and metaphors which can be understood as the architecture of our brains are somehow mimetically present in the physical, cultural and linguistic artefacts which surround us.

Here are a few of the readings I have gathered so far:

- Anthropological and evolutionary studies into the nature and transmission of narrative by Michelle Scalise Sugiyama (in particular her essay 'Reverse-Engineering Narrative' from the book 'The Literary Animal').
- Mikhail Bakhtin's 'Discourse in the Novel' (where he talks about language as having 'genres' or 'tastes' which can transmit as much meaning as the words themselves).
- Michael Shanks and Lynn Hershman Leeson's conversation at Seed Magazine on 'Presence' in art and archaeology and how new technologies affect it.
- Susan A. Stewart's book 'On Longing'.
- Gaston Bachelard's book 'The Poetics of Space'

Thanks in advance!