New Media One: Perspectives
Mapping Experience and Architectural Narrative
On a writing surface, draw a map of the interior of an architectural interior, describing the layout of the space from the crow’s view (top down). Here are a few guidelines. Before you attempt a map, complete a walkthrough of the space. Walk around and make notes. Try to note as many features of the space as you can, including entrances, exits, rooms, passages, and halls. Avoid simple-featured spaces such as small rooms, apartments, and small shops.
Using your map and other observations of the space, such as your notes, identify in a concise but descriptive weblog post how the structure of the space directs people’s movement or “flow” through it. Consider these as narratives of movement made possible by a “designer.” Any insights? Possible problems? Are there any aspects of new media principles at play in the space, including degrees of interactivity and modularity. Consider also how elements of the readerly/writerly text are at play in the space. In other words, can the user shape or transform or manipulate the space?
Additional notes. We’re trying to draw comparisons between different kinds of media environments: web sites, games, and films are just a few examples. An interior space can also be viewed in terms of a media environment if a media environment provokes narrative “flow.” So, as you work, think about how a structure’s space is analogous to the space of a web site, such as a home page and front door, a page and room.
Goal: to familiarize you with the idea of controlled flow, narrative, and spatial analysis, as well as how readers and writers change roles. Note that this kind of map-making and spatial analysis could come in handy for later work with software navigation and building rooms in Inform 7.
Note that you should post the essay in a Category called Assignments.
Assessed Abilities: Course Ability 1, 2 and Gen Ed 2.2.1
Evaluation Sheet
1. Identifies and describes the types of narrative made possible by traditional and new media
0 No demonstrated achievement: Does not identify and describe the types of narrative made possible by traditional and new media.
1 Minimal achievement: Struggles to identify and describe the types of narrative made possible by traditional and new media. Identification and description is general, shows gaps in knowledge, or is imprecise. Work shows evidence of uncertainty with narrative types and variations.
2 Satisfactory achievement: Identifies and describes the types of narrative made possible by traditional and new media. Some imprecision may be evident. Mainly, work is organized and confident.
3 Excellent achievement: Independently and confidently identifies and describes the types of narrative made possible by traditional and new media. Work shows control and mastery of narrative types and variations.
2. Applies critical vocabulary across the traditional and new media spectrum
0 No demonstrated achievement: Does not apply critical vocabulary across the traditional and new media spectrum. Student must take care with note-taking, organizing and differentiating concepts, and should take more time with the assessment of examples.
1 Minimal achievement: Struggles to apply vocabulary across the traditional and new media spectrum. Application shows general understanding but lacks detail and development. Student must take care with note-taking, organizing and differentiating concepts, and should take more time with the assessment of examples.
2 Satisfactory achievement: Applies critical vocabulary across the traditional and new media spectrum. Application may show some evidence of generalization but is mainly controlled and confident.
3 Excellent achievement: Independently and inventively applies critical vocabulary across the traditional and new media spectrum. Is apple to thoroughly explore concepts and terms and identify numerous examples of those concepts and terms in operation.
General Education
Critical Thinking
2.2.1. Level 1: identifies and describes relationships
0 No demonstrated achievement: Does not identify or describe relationships, or the relationships identified are not substantiated by evidence.
1 Minimal achievement: Identifies a relationship, but description is general when it needs to be specific.
2 Satisfactory achievement: Identifies relationships correctly, and description is adequate.
3 Excellent achievement: Identifies relationships correctly. Description is specific and coherent.