CREATIVE ADVENTURES — 7
Imagine You Are A Shapeshifter
How Would You Use This Superpower?
Shapeshifting is the ability to transform and reshape the body of oneself potentially down to genetic or cellular structure. It is also called biological alteration, nanomorphing, or transmutation.
Shapeshifting is widely used in literature, mythology, folklore, and of course, science fiction. We are familiar with heroes or villains impersonating others, turning into other humans or animals, or manipulating their DNA.
In Doctor Who, Zygons could shapeshift into humans and animals for example. Shapeshifting has also been a common theme in Star Trek and Star Wars.
Now, imagine that you have the superpower of shapeshifting.
Please respond to the following questions:
- Would you like to use this power? Explain why or why not.
- Imagine that you have only three chances to use this power. When would you use it? Think of three occasions.
- Please write down a story of you using this power. What are the events that lead to you use this power? How do you use shapeshifting? What happens next? Write a short story using your imagination.
- Imagine you can shapeshift into one of the species in the ocean. Which species would you choose? Why? Imagine yourself swimming and exploring the oceanic life for 24 hours. Write a short story about your (imaginary) observations and experiences.
- Imagine you have used shapeshifting, but you have trouble with returning to your original form. Write a story about this challenge and how you try to overcome it.
- What could be the unexpected consequences of using this superpower? Please make a list of these. You might consider things like forgetting your true self or retaining some of the characteristics of the forms you have been to. Afterward, take one of these unexpected consequences and write a short story about it.
- Think of ways that this superpower can be used for evil. Imagine that there is a villain who uses this superpower. Remember that you also have this superpower and your job is to confront or prevent this villain. Think of a story where you face, challenge, and prevail over this villain.
- Create your own questions and imagination experiments using this theme and its variations.
