noitCARetni-interACTion

blogging into week 4. qn 1

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.

Basically, the author provides only alternatives and options from which the reader can select, in line with his own interest. The starting and ending of the story is no longer clearly defined or manipulated by the author. Instead, he takes the back seat and the reader is allowed to actively construct the narrative through the assembling of fragmented or modular information elements. The reader then has greater influence in narrating the story. In fact, one can question the structure of the narrative. Does the structure of the narrative remain intact in this case?

In my opinion, the structure of the narrative is not really consistent. The story may vary with the interest of the reader. In addition, the juxtaposition of different images may conjure a different meaning and therefore portray a different story and outcome. Yet, although the reader is able to construct a story which pleases him, he is constrained by the options available to him. Referring back to Slippery Traces, the system actually tracks the number of pictures that the reader has viewed in that particular chapter before the clicking of a hotspot allows the reader to move on to another chapter. Therefore, while it seems interactive, it is really a perception of control, freedom and choice. The author still has some control over the process of the narrative transmission and this is also because he ensures the connectivity of the information elements.

Yet, it is still important to consider what effect this will have on the narrative experience of the user. I believe that there is a need on the part of the author to make the connections in such a way that the reader uncovers the story such that it still builds up to a climax. This is however, the difficult part.

posted by shamanthayan @ 5:49 AM