Mazes
From Maze
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Yet the telling of this myth includes a pattern that, as Matthews notes, became convention over the centuries: | Yet the telling of this myth includes a pattern that, as Matthews notes, became convention over the centuries: | ||
Starting from the exterior, the "path" runs inwards a short distance, turns so as to run parallel with the other wall until nearly a full circuit has been completed, then doubles back on itself and runs round in the opposite direction, doubles upon itself again, and so on until it finally comes to a stop in a blind end, having traversed all of the space within the outer walls without covering any part twice and without forming any branches or loops. (45). | Starting from the exterior, the "path" runs inwards a short distance, turns so as to run parallel with the other wall until nearly a full circuit has been completed, then doubles back on itself and runs round in the opposite direction, doubles upon itself again, and so on until it finally comes to a stop in a blind end, having traversed all of the space within the outer walls without covering any part twice and without forming any branches or loops. (45). | ||
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| − | The maze also has cultural resonance because of its role in behavioral research. Mazes have been used as laboratory environments for rats and mice, and as means of testing these rodents. The depiction of mazes in certain cultural productions reflects this aspect of the maze. For instance, images of rats in a maze are prominent in Alex Proyas' 1998 film ''Dark City.'' Dr. Schreber, a captive human who works with his alien captors, is shown looking down on a rat in a large, intricate maze; the rat and the maze connect figuratively to the people in the film and the titular city, which is constructed for the purpose of an experiment. In Daniel Keyes' novel ''Flowers for Algernon'' (1966; first published as a short story in 1959), a white mouse with augmented intelligence demonstrates its abilities by traversing a maze. Algernon parallels the novel's protagonist, Charlie, in many ways: the success of the intelligence-enhancing procedure performed on him leads to its being done to Charlie. | ||
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| − | It is not actually known whether the labyrinth in Knossos was real or mythological; no ruins of the edifice remain. Yet the telling of this myth includes a pattern that, as Matthews notes, became convention over the centuries: | ||
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| − | Starting from the exterior, the "path" runs inwards a short distance, turns so as to run parallel with the other wall until nearly a full circuit has been completed, then doubles back on itself and runs round in the opposite direction, doubles upon itself again, and so on until it finally comes to a stop in a blind end, having traversed all of the space within the outer walls without covering any part twice and without forming any branches or loops. (45). </blockquote> [Image] | ||
