MIT world building

What are the primary features of this world--spatial, cultural, biological, fantastic, cosmological? 

In this story, we are placed in a very realistic portrayal of cheesy tourist Florida. The palm fronds, trees, and dry looking, but plentiful shrubbery that we (as florida residents know) is very true and close to home. The only real fantastical part of this story is just the one in a million chance this girl has to sell her sculpture to a celebrity.

What is the world’s ethos (the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize the world)? 

It is hot and humid and everybody seems slow and lazy, even during their heated moments. The police don’t seem urgent, and even the daughter just sits home and smokes while her father is missing.

What are the precise strategies that are used by its creator to convey the world to us and us to the world? 

Her writing is slow and drawn out and the details of the environment seem dull. She uses really average sounding adjectives to describe the places they go. This gives it the hot and slow moving feel that the story has. This is exactly what the environment is so it works perfectly in her favor.

How are our characters connected to the world? 

This world is new to the characters so they find it fascinating.

And how are we the viewer or reader or player connected to the world?

We specifically are connected to the world the most because we live here but others may feel connected from a visit there where they can remember what it was like or if they have visited a similar kind of place.