A domino is a large rectangular tile with pips that are arranged in a standard pattern, usually from double-six to double-nine. They are normally used to play positional games, where each player in turn places a domino edge-to-edge against another so that the resulting chains of pips form some specified total or block. Other, non-positional games are also played with dominoes, including solitaire and trick-taking games.
A common use for the word domino is to refer to a sequence of events or actions, which affect one another in a predictable way, just like the tiles falling over in a game of dominoes. This image is a perfect metaphor for narrative, especially in fiction, where each scene can be thought of as a domino that falls over and creates a chain effect on the next scene. Using scenes as dominoes in your plot can help keep things moving along logically and build tension, as well as highlight any areas that are slowing down the story or need tightening.
When making a first play, a player may draw new tiles from the stock (or boneyard) depending on the rules of the particular game. This is called “setting,” putting down, or leading. Alternatively, a player may buy tiles from the boneyard with money. The bought tiles must be placed in front of him, and he then begins to make his plays. The player who has the highest double, or he who holds the heaviest single, may open the next game.
Lily Hevesh sets up and tests her installations, often filming them in slow motion. She then connects each section with lines of dominoes, starting with the largest 3-D sections, then adding flat arrangements. She omits a few pieces here and there until the very end, so that accidental knocks won’t bring the whole installation crashing down.
Domino’s CEO, David Brandon, recognized that his company was losing customers to competitors who offered more convenient delivery services and better quality pizzas. So, he set out to address the problem by listening to employees and promoting a number of changes such as a more flexible dress code and new leadership training programs. When he retired and Doyle became CEO, he continued the practice of recognizing employee input.
In this episode of This American Life, we explore the domino effect. What causes one event to knock over other events in a predictable and dramatic way? And, what can we learn from studying this phenomenon in everyday life?
This episode of This American Life is made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The show is produced by WHYY in Philadelphia.