The SF Site: Computer Viruses in Books, An Interview with Mark Chadbourn

"'Stories are the best way for transmitting ideas, because the ideas are put into a structure where they can sink deep into our subconscious, where memes do their work. One example that illustrates the power of stories to transmit memes is the TV series Hill Street Blues. Academic studies have noted police acted a certain way before the series was broadcast, and then subtly adjusted their behaviour, subconsciously, afterwards, so they acted more like the characters. The writers of Hill Street Blues created a meme and through the medium of their show it filtered out into a particular culture and exacted change.'" (more at link)
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