Week 3 Questions

1. In his paper “Modular Structure and Image/Text Sequences: Comics and Interactive Media”, George Legrady states: “Meaning in the interactive work is a result of the sequential selection of components that the viewer assembles in the viewing process. The viewer can then be considered as someone who actively constructs the narrative through the assembling of fragmented or modular information elements. The sequential sum of viewed selections becomes the narrative.” This approach to interactivity is reflected in his work Slippery Traces.

Discuss how this approach to constructing a narrative changes the roles of the reader and the author in the process of narrative transmission.

As mentioned in this text, with this approach, the role of the viewer becomes one of active participation. The viewer is no longer a passive object, simply the receiving end of the author’s messages; but rather, he is part of the narration himself, seeking meaning and finding the connection between the pictures that the author has presented. This involves at least mental participation by the viewer. There is a certain degree and sense of interaction between the viewer and the narrative. Slippery Traces is a multi-linear visual narrative in which the viewer assembles a story by going from one postcard image to the next. A sorting program selects specific images from its database according to the viewer’s actions.

As for the role of the author, he has moved from being the one who builds up the plot and relates the story to the reader to one who sets up the story for the reader to explore. The author now has to involve in more “backstage” work to set the stage for the narration, by classifying the various pictures and interlinking them into a series of networks with self-defined relationships for the reader to explore and determine their connections.

Personally, I think that it is a very interesting concept. The interaction between the reader and the author is very much enhanced as the reader seeks to uncover the correlation between the pictures and unveils the message/story that the author is seeking to put across.

2. Choose a set of 5-10 images that you feel form a narrative. If they are not digital images, scan them into the computer (there’s a scanner available in the USP multimedia lab). Arrange them in a linear sequence on your blog. You may or may not want to include text captions with each image.Bring a physical copy of your images to class on Thursday. We’ll be using them as part of an in-class exercise.

Hmmm...I can't seem to upload any pictures. They just don't show...

3. Write about the narrative that your group has chosen for project 1. Why have you chosen this work? How might you approach the task of re-configuring it as an interactive piece? Be prepared to discuss your group’s choice of work in class on Thursday.

We have decided to start working with fairytales first, and probably incorporate other forms of narrative as well. Basically we have a main character...(a prince?) who can travel between the fairytales and experience the various different plots, but there's a twist or 2... or 3... or a few to it. ;p TOP SECRET!!! Or rather, let us hammer out the details first ;p With respect to the interactive part of the project, we are hoping to "employ" the "collective wisdom" of the audience to guide the prince through his quest. How? It's a secret. We'll elaborate later. ;p Let's not spoil the surprise. ;p