Transmedia Storytelling: Narrative Worlds, Emerging Technologies, and Global Audiences

Bachelor 2021/2022

Type: Elective course (Media Communications)

Area of studies: Media Communications

Delivered by: Institute of Media

Where: Faculty of Creative Industries

When: 4 year, 3 module

Mode of studies: distance learning

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Alexander Kupriyanov

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 2

Full Syllabus

Abstract

Transmedia storytelling is the practice of designing, sharing, and participating in a cohesive story experience across multiple traditional and digital delivery platforms - for entertainment, advertising and marketing, or social change. Have you ever read a book, seen a movie, watched a television show, or played a game that centred around different aspects of a larger story or universe? You may be familiar with popular examples of such universes like Star Wars, Marvel, and The Walking Dead (to name a few). How do the professionals develop such expansive narratives? How do they ensure that each element stays true to the original story? How do they innovatively use different technologies to share the stories, grow audiences and create an active and involved community of fans? More and more, we are also engaging with elements or franchises of larger and more complex stories across a much more diverse range of platforms like interactive web experiences, social media communities, mobile devices, theme parks, and even augmented and virtual reality. A major challenge that current and future storytellers face is being able to engage different audiences in a story that is seamlessly told across all of these different platforms.

Learning Objectives

To help to design a strategy for developing and telling your own transmedia story.

Expected Learning Outcomes

To be able to create cohesive user experiences across different platforms.
To be able to evaluate existing and emerging technologies to share story with the world.
To be able to identify, understand, and engage different audiences in your stories.
To be able to shape ideas into compelling and well structured narratives and complex story worlds.

Course Contents

What is Transmedia Storytelling?
Creative Ideas Generation - Building a Storyworld.
Understanding a Transmedia Audience.
The Transmedia User Experience.
Using Creative Technologies.
Stories from Industry - Professionals’ Career Journeys and Advice.

Assessment Elements

Assignment 1: What is your story?
Submit your assignment and review 3 peers' assignments to get your grade.
Assignment 2: Who are you telling your story to?
Submit your assignment and review 2 peers' assignments to get your grade.
Assignment 3: How is your story experienced?
Submit your assignment and review 1 peer's assignments to get your grade.
Assignment 4: How will you use technology to tell your story?
Submit your assignment and review 1 peer's assignments to get your grade.

Interim Assessment

2021/2022 3rd module
0.25 * Assignment 4: How will you use technology to tell your story? + 0.25 * Assignment 3: How is your story experienced? + 0.25 * Assignment 1: What is your story? + 0.25 * Assignment 2: Who are you telling your story to?

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Hassler-Forest, D., & Guynes, S. A. (2017). Star Wars and the History of Transmedia Storytelling. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1701493

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Rampazzo Gambarato, R. (2013). Transmedia Project Design: Theoretical and Analytical Considerations. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.96CB59E4
Renira Rampazzo Gambarato. (2012). Signs, Systems and Complexity of Transmedia Storytelling. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.283B99B

Course Syllabus