Digital Narrative Theory and Practice

This course blends theory and practice in an exploration of digital narrative: how stories can be told with digital and new media technologies. Students work critically and creatively with linear and nonlinear narratives in a range of media such as writing, graphics, animation, games, multimedia, virtual worlds, interactive media, immersive media, and mixed reality. The overall theme of the course focuses on moving image narratives—both linear and nonlinear—that explore ideas about storytelling, time, presence, embodiment, agency, and memory. In particular, students consider how interactivity changes narrative, and whether there are new kinds of digital narratives and aesthetics emerging. Students create projects including interactive fiction, games, movies, virtual reality, augmented reality and/or concepts for new realities; comment on their creative work using the critical concepts they learn; and experiment with coding, graphics, and 3D and 2D content creation software programs.