Misplaced Pages

Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 00:18, 14 August 2004 edit68.33.25.214 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit Revision as of 03:45, 14 August 2004 edit undoToytoy (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers8,392 edits This article has lots of links.Next edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
The college game <b>Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon</b>, inspired by the film '']'', merely requires a group of players to connect any film actor to ] as quickly as possible and in as few links as possible (see ]). The concept is simple, but finding the fewest number of links can be difficult. The way you link an actor with Bacon is like so: The ] ] '''Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon''', inspired by the ] '']'', merely requires a ] of players to connect any film ] to ] as quickly as possible and in as few links as possible (see ]). The ] is simple, but finding the fewest number of links can be difficult. The way you link an actor with Bacon is like so:


* Pick a film actor, any film actor. * Pick a film actor, any film actor.
Line 6: Line 6:
Here is an example, using ]: Here is an example, using ]:


#Elvis Presley was in '']'' (1969) with ] # Elvis Presley was in '']'' (]) with ]
#Edward Asner was in '']'' (1991) with Kevin Bacon # Edward Asner was in '']'' (]) with Kevin Bacon


Therefore Elvis Presley has a ] of 2. Therefore Elvis Presley has a ] of 2.
Line 13: Line 13:
==The traditional Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game== ==The traditional Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game==


A very few actors have an infinite (or undefined) Bacon number, meaning that they cannot be linked to Bacon in any number of connections at all. For instance, ] appears in the ] ''Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze''; he was the only actor in that film and also acted solo in ''Fred Ott Holding a Bird''&mdash;the only films in which he appeared. Most actors, however, can be linked to Bacon, and in six or fewer links. A very few actors have an ] (or undefined) Bacon ], meaning that they cannot be linked to Bacon in any number of connections at all. For instance, ] appears in the ] '']''; he was the only actor in that film and also acted solo in ''Fred Ott Holding a Bird'' -- the only films in which he appeared. Most actors, however, can be linked to Bacon, and in six or fewer links.


==Variations of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game== ==Variations of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game==
Line 21: Line 21:
===Forward linking=== ===Forward linking===


For example, the spreading of ], the virus that causes ], is forward in time. If John Doe gets HIV on ], ]. Jane Doe, who only had sex with him two days before that could not get the virus from John. For example, the spreading of ], the ] that causes ], is forward in time. If ] gets HIV on ], ]. ], who only had sex with him two days before that could not get the virus from John.


For John Doe to spread the virus to Jane Doe, it may require following steps: For John Doe to transmit the virus to Jane Doe, it may require following steps:
:John Doe -> Jack (5 weeks later) -> Tom (18 months later) -> Jane Doe (2 years later) :John Doe -> Jack (5 ]s later) -> Tom (18 ]s later) -> Jane Doe (2 ]s later)


===Backward linking=== ===Backward linking===


However, if John Doe is running a ] file exchange program like ], he needs links backward in time. He does not care who will get a piece of the file in the future. He wants to know who already had that piece of file at hand. However, if John Doe is running a ] ] exchange ] like ], he needs links backward in ]. He does not care who will get a piece of the file in the ]. He wants to know who already had that piece of file at hand.


For John Doe to receive a piece of file, that particular information could be travelling in this manner: For John Doe to receive a piece of file, that particular information could be travelling in this manner:
:John Doe <- Jack (2 minutes ago) <- Tom (5 hours ago) <- Mary (4 day ago) <- Seed (1 week ago) :John Doe <- Jack (2 ]s ago) <- Tom (5 ]s ago) <- Mary (4 day ago) <- Seed (1 week ago)


So there are two ways to link, for example, ] with Kevin Bacon: So there are two ways to link, for example, ] with Kevin Bacon:


*Forward linking from Lopez to Bacon * Forward linking from Lopez to Bacon
#Jennifer (I) Lopez was in ''U Turn'' (1997) with Sean Penn # Jennifer Lopez was in '']'' (]) with ]
#Sean Penn was in ''Mystic River'' (2003) with Kevin Bacon # Sean Penn was in '']'' (]) with Kevin Bacon
:*1997 -> 2003 :* 1997 -> 2003
*Backward linking from Lopez to Bacon * Backward linking from Lopez to Bacon
#Jennifer (I) Lopez was in ''Gigli'' (2003) with David (I) Pressman # Jennifer Lopez was in '']'' (2003) with ]
#David (I) Pressman was in ''Pyrates'' (1991) with Kevin Bacon # David Pressman was in '']'' (1991) with Kevin Bacon
:*2003 <- 1991 :* 2003 <- 1991


===Bi-directional linking=== ===] linking===


Anyone with a Bacon number of 2 could not have a link of both forward and backward steps. However, with many people who died long ago, pure backward linking is simply impossible, if the use of stock footage is ruled out. For example, ], who died in ] could not be performing with anyone after ], Bacon's first TV appearance, or ], his first film appearance. Anyone with a Bacon number of 2 could not have a link of both forward and backward steps. However, with many people who ] long ago, pure backward linking is simply impossible, if the use of ] is ruled out. For example, ], who died in ] could not be performing with anyone after ], Bacon's first ] appearance, or ], his first film appearance.


*Shortest Path from JFK to Bacon (A) *Shortest Path from JFK to Bacon (A)
#John F. Kennedy was in ''Zapruder Film of Kennedy Assassination'' (1963) with Jean (II) Hill #John F. Kennedy was in '']'' (]) with ]
#Jean (II) Hill was in ''Beyond 'JFK': The Question of Conspiracy'' (1992) with Gary Oldman #Jean Hill was in '']'' (]) with ]
#Gary Oldman was in ''Murder in the First'' (1995) with Kevin Bacon #Gary Oldman was in '']'' (]) with Kevin Bacon
:*1963 -> 1992 -> 1995 (forward steps) :*1963 -> 1992 -> 1995 (forward steps)
*Shortest Path from JFK to Bacon (B) *Shortest Path from JFK to Bacon (B)
#John F. Kennedy was in ''Zapruder Film of Kennedy Assassination'' (1963) with Jean (II) Hill #John F. Kennedy was in ''Zapruder Film of Kennedy Assassination'' (1963) with Jean (II) Hill
#Jean (II) Hill was in ''Beyond 'JFK': The Question of Conspiracy'' (1992) with Edward Asner #Jean Hill was in ''Beyond 'JFK': The Question of Conspiracy'' (]) with Edward Asner
#Edward Asner was in ''JFK'' (1991) with Kevin Bacon #Edward Asner was in ''JFK'' (1991) with Kevin Bacon
:*1963 -> 1992 <- 1991 (bi-directional steps, backward steps impossible) :*1963 -> 1992 <- 1991 (bi-directional steps, backward steps impossible)


===The long links=== ===Distant links===


Elsa Masriera has a Bacon number of 7. If only bi-directional links are allowed. Elsa Masriera has a Bacon number of 7. If only bi-directional links are allowed.


*Shortest Path from Elsa Masriera to Bacon (A) *Shortest Path from Elsa Masriera to Bacon (A)
#Elsa Masriera was in ''Madre sin saberlo'' (1927) with Mercedes Olivares # ] was in '']'' (]) with ]
#Mercedes Olivares was in ''Bajo dos banderas'' (1926) with Edmundo Fuenzalida # Mercedes Olivares was in '']'' (]) with ]
#Edmundo Fuenzalida was in ''Cascabeles de Arlequin, Los'' (1926) with Placido Martin # Edmundo Fuenzalida was in '']'' (1926) with ]
#Placido Martin was in ''Suena mi amor'' (1946) with Chela Bon # Placido Martin was in '']'' (]) with ]
#Chela Bon was in ''Curse of the Stone Hand'' (1964) with John Carradine # Chela Bon was in '']'' (]) with ]
#John Carradine was in ''Sentinel, The'' (1977) with Eli Wallach # John Carradine was in '']'' (]) with ]
#Eli Wallach was in ''Mystic River'' (2003) with Kevin Bacon # Eli Wallach was in '']'' (2003) with Kevin Bacon
:*1927 <- 1926 -> 1926 -> 1946 -> 1964 -> 1977 -> 2003 (bi-directional) :* 1927 <- 1926 -> 1926 -> 1946 -> 1964 -> 1977 -> 2003 (bi-directional)
*Shortest Path from Elsa Masriera to Bacon (B) * Shortest Path from Elsa Masriera to Bacon (B)
#Elsa Masriera was in ''Madre sin saberlo'' (1927) with Mercedes Olivares # Elsa Masriera was in ''Madre sin saberlo'' (1927) with Mercedes Olivares
#Mercedes Olivares was in ''Bajo dos banderas'' (1926) with Edmundo Fuenzalida # Mercedes Olivares was in ''Bajo dos banderas'' (1926) with Edmundo Fuenzalida
#Edmundo Fuenzalida was in ''Cascabeles de Arlequin, Los'' (1926) with Placido Martin # Edmundo Fuenzalida was in ''Los Cascabeles de Arlequin'' (1926) with Placido Martin
#Placido Martin was in ''Ultimo galope, El'' (1951) with Yoya Martinez # Placido Martin was in ''El Ultimo galope'' (]) with ]
#Yoya Martinez was in "Marron Glace, el regreso" (1996) with Walter Kliche # Yoya Martinez was in "]" (]) with ]
#Walter Kliche was in ''Lawless Land, The'' (1988) with Xander Berkeley # Walter Kliche was in '']'' (]) with ]
#Xander Berkeley was in ''Apollo 13'' (1995) with Kevin Bacon # Xander Berkeley was in '']'' (1995) with Kevin Bacon
:*1927 <- 1926 -> 1926 -> 1951 -> 1996 <- 1988 -> 1995 (bi-directional) :*1927 <- 1926 -> 1926 -> 1951 -> 1996 <- 1988 -> 1995 (bi-directional)


Revision as of 03:45, 14 August 2004

The college game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, inspired by the film Six Degrees of Separation, merely requires a group of players to connect any film actor to Kevin Bacon as quickly as possible and in as few links as possible (see Small World Phenomenon). The concept is simple, but finding the fewest number of links can be difficult. The way you link an actor with Bacon is like so:

  • Pick a film actor, any film actor.
  • Link the actor you've chosen to Bacon via the movies they've shared with other actors until you end up with Kevin Bacon himself.

Here is an example, using Elvis Presley:

  1. Elvis Presley was in Change of Habit (1969) with Edward Asner
  2. Edward Asner was in JFK (1991) with Kevin Bacon

Therefore Elvis Presley has a Bacon number of 2.

The traditional Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game

A very few actors have an infinite (or undefined) Bacon number, meaning that they cannot be linked to Bacon in any number of connections at all. For instance, Fred Ott appears in the 1894 Edison Kinetoscopic Record of a Sneeze; he was the only actor in that film and also acted solo in Fred Ott Holding a Bird -- the only films in which he appeared. Most actors, however, can be linked to Bacon, and in six or fewer links.

Variations of the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game

The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game sometimes fails to model the real world as it allows both forward and backward linkings. Very frequently, only one kind of linking is allowed between two nodes.

Forward linking

For example, the spreading of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is forward in time. If John Doe gets HIV on January 1, 2004. Jane Doe, who only had sex with him two days before that could not get the virus from John.

For John Doe to transmit the virus to Jane Doe, it may require following steps:

John Doe -> Jack (5 weeks later) -> Tom (18 months later) -> Jane Doe (2 years later)

Backward linking

However, if John Doe is running a peer-to-peer file exchange program like BitTorrent, he needs links backward in time. He does not care who will get a piece of the file in the future. He wants to know who already had that piece of file at hand.

For John Doe to receive a piece of file, that particular information could be travelling in this manner:

John Doe <- Jack (2 minutes ago) <- Tom (5 hours ago) <- Mary (4 day ago) <- Seed (1 week ago)

So there are two ways to link, for example, Jennifer Lopez with Kevin Bacon:

  • Forward linking from Lopez to Bacon
  1. Jennifer Lopez was in U Turn (1997) with Sean Penn
  2. Sean Penn was in Mystic River (2003) with Kevin Bacon
  • 1997 -> 2003
  • Backward linking from Lopez to Bacon
  1. Jennifer Lopez was in Gigli (2003) with David Pressman
  2. David Pressman was in Pyrates (1991) with Kevin Bacon
  • 2003 <- 1991

Bi-directional linking

Anyone with a Bacon number of 2 could not have a link of both forward and backward steps. However, with many people who died long ago, pure backward linking is simply impossible, if the use of stock footage is ruled out. For example, John F. Kennedy, who died in 1963 could not be performing with anyone after 1975, Bacon's first TV appearance, or 1978, his first film appearance.

  • Shortest Path from JFK to Bacon (A)
  1. John F. Kennedy was in Zapruder Film of Kennedy Assassination (1963) with Jean Hill
  2. Jean Hill was in Beyond 'JFK': The Question of Conspiracy (1992) with Gary Oldman
  3. Gary Oldman was in Murder in the First (1995) with Kevin Bacon
  • 1963 -> 1992 -> 1995 (forward steps)
  • Shortest Path from JFK to Bacon (B)
  1. John F. Kennedy was in Zapruder Film of Kennedy Assassination (1963) with Jean (II) Hill
  2. Jean Hill was in Beyond 'JFK': The Question of Conspiracy (1992) with Edward Asner
  3. Edward Asner was in JFK (1991) with Kevin Bacon
  • 1963 -> 1992 <- 1991 (bi-directional steps, backward steps impossible)

Distant links

Elsa Masriera has a Bacon number of 7. If only bi-directional links are allowed.

  • Shortest Path from Elsa Masriera to Bacon (A)
  1. Elsa Masriera was in Madre sin saberlo (1927) with Mercedes Olivares
  2. Mercedes Olivares was in Bajo dos banderas (1926) with Edmundo Fuenzalida
  3. Edmundo Fuenzalida was in Los Cascabeles de Arlequin (1926) with Placido Martin
  4. Placido Martin was in Suena mi amor (1946) with Chela Bon
  5. Chela Bon was in Curse of the Stone Hand (1964) with John Carradine
  6. John Carradine was in The Sentinel (1977) with Eli Wallach
  7. Eli Wallach was in Mystic River (2003) with Kevin Bacon
  • 1927 <- 1926 -> 1926 -> 1946 -> 1964 -> 1977 -> 2003 (bi-directional)
  • Shortest Path from Elsa Masriera to Bacon (B)
  1. Elsa Masriera was in Madre sin saberlo (1927) with Mercedes Olivares
  2. Mercedes Olivares was in Bajo dos banderas (1926) with Edmundo Fuenzalida
  3. Edmundo Fuenzalida was in Los Cascabeles de Arlequin (1926) with Placido Martin
  4. Placido Martin was in El Ultimo galope (1951) with Yoya Martinez
  5. Yoya Martinez was in "Marron Glace, el regreso" (1996) with Walter Kliche
  6. Walter Kliche was in The Lawless Land (1988) with Xander Berkeley
  7. Xander Berkeley was in Apollo 13 (1995) with Kevin Bacon
  • 1927 <- 1926 -> 1926 -> 1951 -> 1996 <- 1988 -> 1995 (bi-directional)

See also

  • Bacon numbers for a lot more information on Bacon numbers and how to calculate them.

External link