Right, Left, High, Low: Narrative Strategies For Non–Linear Storytelling

Abstract

Based on studies of affect, and on theoretical works concerning spatial semantics by Yuri Lotman, Mikhail Bakhtin, Michel Foucault and others, spatial story design provides a seven-step algorithm of story development for inter-active audio-visual narrative. Following spatial semantics and its application in interactive storytelling, the author no longer creates the protagonist, his or her want or need, nor controls the story arc. Instead, spatial story design allows the author(s) to make the formative creative decisions by designing a narrative space, and spatial dynamics that then translate into user-generated storylines. Spatial story design serves as a framework for interdisciplinary collaborations, and can be used to not only create an interactive digital narrative but also screenplays, improvisational theatre, 360° LMS, and walk-in story world experiences for a number of users in either live or holographic virtual reality spaces. Spatial story design could inspire creators of interactive narrative, storytellers in time-based media, and possibly also technology developers for authoring tools.

Keywords

• non–linear storytelling
• environmental storytelling
• spatial story design
• affect theory
• screenwriting
• digital filmmaking
• improvisational theatre