New Media Narrative
In Exhibitions
Neelam Parmar
What is Narrative
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Exhibitions are like an unfolding narrative
that gives meaning to sequence of events.
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It is the re-representation of a story which
takes place in space and time and which
follows a trajectory path of telling.
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Re-telling of a story/sequence of events from
the point of view being told.
Elements of Narrative I
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Narrator – organises, selects and comments on the
chosen setting of the narrative
Audience – who respond to what is being told and its
viewpoint.
Genre/Theme – General type of narrative being told.
Theme is the “why” factor.
Setting – Where the narrative takes place and its
changing environments. The “where” and “when” of
the story.
Elements of Narrative II
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Characters – Description of the character
and a little on the background. Characters
are the “who”
Structure/Plot – that tend to have some type
of beginning, middle and end and an element
of conflict. Conflict is the “what”.
Resolution – The strongest part of discovery
or conclusion. This the “how”.
New Media Narrative
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Simple vs. Complex Narrative
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Non-linearity and Interactivity
Hypertext reading
Sequence of meaning: ABC/ACB
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Space and Time
Natural detours
Shifting between threads on the timeline.
New Media Narrative
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Abbe Don’s Narrative where space and time are merged to
become the ultimate “present”:
“...she weaved in and out of the past and present, the old country and America
English and Yiddish, business and family, changing voice from first person to direct
address to third person...both content and meaning were affected by the context: the
presence of other visitors, where we were baking together, looking at photos in her
scrapbook, or if I interrupted the flow of the story to ask for more details (The Art of
Human-Computer Interface Design, p. 384).
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Reader has full autonomy to move forward and backwards into and
out of the story at any given time which becomes the ultimate
present to the reader!
Digital Storytelling
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Newer Forms of Oral Storytelling
2-5 minutes of mini-movies
Combine images, voice and music to tell a
story/narrative.
“They are easily created on a computer and anyone
who has a story to tell will be able to create these
movies in a highly engaging process that merges
story and innovation to make them come alive”.
Digital Storytelling Examples
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Never Too Late to Learn/Audio and Video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/audiovideo/sites/
yourvideo/pages/catherine_collins_01.shtml
A Journey into Process – no words:
http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/art.html
Digital Story on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/iompretoria
Activity/Task
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The Means of Enjoyment by T.S. Arthur
Recompose story
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http://new-medianarrative.blogspot.com
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