RESEARCH QUESTION 1 - DFF

Research Question 1

Set by Ian Wareing of Digital Fiction Factory:

The Internet, social media and other open systems have allowed for user generated content (UGC), crowd-sourcing and other forms of audience participation to prevail in digital media. But how do we translate these features into storytelling experiences, without treading on the toes of the author?



I have started to give this question some consideration as I feel it relates to some of my other blog posts about audience participation and digital media technologies.  I have covered this area to some extent in lectures attended in both the Applied Media Research module and also Digital Media Cultures. 

In order to research this question thoroughly I would aim to approach it initially by looking at some of the following methods:

The researching of participatory habits - Identifying audience engagement with multi-layered storytelling experiences.  How do people engage with this stuff.  Is there sufficient evidence to suggest that people will actually watch, say Eastenders and then engage in a non-linear digital spin-off?




As part of this research, I can record and analyse my own media usage before targeting questions towards and eventually observing a specific user group.

It may also be useful to further research the area by contacting an organisation such as Digital Fiction Factory in order to obtain case study information from their experiences with authors and writers.

I am also giving some thought to exploring the impact of copyright laws and contractual obligations relating to existing and historical examples of multi-layered storytelling and the idea of the contemporary 'spin-offs' and 'fan fiction' which now forms a major part of the wider 'story world'.

I'm thinking about stuff like Lucasfilm's reaction to the extended fan created starwars universe and readers' engagement with J K Rowling's Harry Potter world.