number four
Interactive Narrative
A definition of interactive narrative is a story that involves the viewer, it lets them interact and become a part of the story. Many modern day artists like to experiment with this type of work, and feel as if there is a new challenge emerging.
A name that suddenly springs into mind is William.S.Burroughs. He was born in America in 1914, and died a legand in 1997. He was always a very extravagant man, and never liked order or normality. He lead an extremely interesting and extravagant life involving drug abuse, he got sent to jail for the 'accidental' murder of his lover, he spent time in a mental institute and even cut off his little finger to impress his then male lover.
His life was a whirlwind, but he soon sprung to life when the idea for his 'cut-ups' came to light. Perhaps one of his most famous inventions, came about so casually. It first began when one of his close friends, Biron Gyson, accedently sliced through a stack of newspapers and magazines. Burroughs immediately noticed that the re-arranged and overlapping pieces created a new non-linear text of their own. He loved the idea and soon became obsessed, he started applying it to his own work, and that of others. This gave him the opportunity to create new strange ideas, words, images and connections. He developed this ideas, and started to apply the cut-up technique to the spoken word and still image.
To me this technique vaguely reminds me of the process in soap opera's. They cut-out the unimportant, boring parts. They highlight and concentrate on the dramatic events. This gives it impact and immediacy which I believe Burroughs was also trying to create in his work.
A definition of interactive narrative is a story that involves the viewer, it lets them interact and become a part of the story. Many modern day artists like to experiment with this type of work, and feel as if there is a new challenge emerging.
A name that suddenly springs into mind is William.S.Burroughs. He was born in America in 1914, and died a legand in 1997. He was always a very extravagant man, and never liked order or normality. He lead an extremely interesting and extravagant life involving drug abuse, he got sent to jail for the 'accidental' murder of his lover, he spent time in a mental institute and even cut off his little finger to impress his then male lover.
His life was a whirlwind, but he soon sprung to life when the idea for his 'cut-ups' came to light. Perhaps one of his most famous inventions, came about so casually. It first began when one of his close friends, Biron Gyson, accedently sliced through a stack of newspapers and magazines. Burroughs immediately noticed that the re-arranged and overlapping pieces created a new non-linear text of their own. He loved the idea and soon became obsessed, he started applying it to his own work, and that of others. This gave him the opportunity to create new strange ideas, words, images and connections. He developed this ideas, and started to apply the cut-up technique to the spoken word and still image.
Cut word lines
Cut music lines
Smash the control images
Smash the control machine.
---William S. Burroughs
To me this technique vaguely reminds me of the process in soap opera's. They cut-out the unimportant, boring parts. They highlight and concentrate on the dramatic events. This gives it impact and immediacy which I believe Burroughs was also trying to create in his work.