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Research into Interactive Digital Narrative: A Kaleidoscopic View Read chapter Read first chapter

2018 | OriginalPaper | Chapter

The Myth of ‘Universal’ Narrative Models

Expanding the Design Space of Narrative Structures for Interactive Digital Narratives

Authors : Hartmut Koenitz, Andrea Di Pastena, Dennis Jansen, Brian de Lint, Amanda Moss

Published in: Interactive Storytelling

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

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Abstract

In narrative game design and related practices, the role and function of narrative models is described as predominantly pragmatic. However, we see that many interactive digital narratives (IDN) including narrative video games derive their story structures from the same formulas connected to Joseph Campbell and Aristotle, adhering to the trajectory of the Hero’s Journey and the dramatic arc. We engage with scholarly criticism exposing the supposed ubiquity of these structures and agree that the question of narrative models in interactive digital media requires both further exploration and intervention. We follow up on some proposed solutions by looking at non-Western narrative traditions to expand the corpus of narrative structures available to game designers and other narrative developers. With this paper we raise awareness of alternative structures and simultaneously introduce implementable narrative structures with the aim to expand the design space and range of analytical models for IDN.

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previous chapter Ludonarrative Hermeneutics: A Way Out and the Narrative Paradox
next chapter Predictability and Plausibility in Interactive Narrative Constructs: A Case for an ERP Study
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Metadata
Title
The Myth of ‘Universal’ Narrative Models
Authors
Hartmut Koenitz
Andrea Di Pastena
Dennis Jansen
Brian de Lint
Amanda Moss
Copyright Year
2018
Book
Interactive Storytelling

Print ISBN: 978-3-030-04027-7

Electronic ISBN: 978-3-030-04028-4

Copyright Year: 2018

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04028-4_8

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