In Exhibitions

New Media Narrative

Neelam Parmar

What is Narrative

Exhibitions are like an unfolding narrative that gives meaning to sequence of events.

It is the re-representation of a story which takes place in space and time and which follows a trajectory path of telling.

Re-telling of a story/sequence of events from the point of view being told.

Elements of Narrative I

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

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

Simple vs. Complex Narrative

Non-linearity and Interactivity- Hypertext reading- Sequence of meaning: ABC/ACB

Space and Time- Natural detours- Shifting between threads on the timeline.

New Media Narrative

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).

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

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

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

The Means of Enjoyment by T.S. Arthur Recompose story

http://new-medianarrative.blogspot.com