Project 4 | Final Project | Trans-Media Narrative
In 1991, Comic book artist Art Spiegelman completed an early trans-media narrative with his comic book and CD-ROM work MAÜS. Spiegelman’s book itself defies categorization. It is simultaneously a history, a novel, a biography and an autobiography, and a graphic novel. The the text of the book itself is rich with multiple narrative and metanarrative threads. In the CD, Spiegelman’s graphic novel is reproduced, but augmented with additional threads of content and commentary that expand the reader’s understanding of the production, history of the work.
The trans-media narrative has become a staple of modern entertainment and advertising. Television programs such as Lost, Big Brother, the Real World maintain a steady stream of content that is propagated across multiple channels: television, the internet, as podcasts, web-based video, emails, news articles. Arguably the first commercial trans-media narrative, the BMW car-chase film series, The Hire was created in 2001 to promote the sales of cars, was distributed on DVD through car dealerships and the company’s web site, and encompasses a spin-off comic book series.
In pairs, develop a narrative-based artwork that is distributed across multiple media channels. Consider the characteristics of each media, and the appropriateness/inappropriateness of the content for that medium. Consider opportunities for crosstalk between the channels, and what happens when content from one channel is distributed in another.
- What meaning is implied by the context of the mediated interactions?
- Does the medium or imply a dramatic or narrative dynamic?
- Does that medium have special characteristics that change the nature of the interaction?
- Does that medium have social rituals associated with it’s use that could be used or co-opted for your project?
Project Phases:
- preliminary proposal – April 10th
- sketch – April 17th
- storyboard or prototype – April 22nd
- production complete – April 29th
- project complete, refine and revise – May 1st
The completed project is due Sat. May 3, 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
