Re: [-empyre-] multilinear narratives

["Mark Hancock" <Mark.Hancock@marconi.com>]

They wrote:
>dont' have answers, just problems there, and would be very interested
>in what others think about multilinear narrative and narrative
>pleasure.
>
.i don't know how you define "multilinear narrative", but i enjoy work that
.allows me to assemble my own interpretation rather than be spoonfed. it
.seems to me that there is a lot more potential for this in interactive
.media than we are seeing yet, & i wonder if that is because of the
.perception that the masses want to be spoonfed & that is where commercial
.interests are focussed.

I thought:
To me, multilinear implies narratives taking place along the same time line
('film time' that is). And the interactive bit, involves having the choice
about switching from one narrative to the other. Applied to cinematic
formats, this might mean that the viewer can select to go elsewhere,
(follow a different plot strand), and return to the original thread at a
later point. However, because all narratives are running simultaneously,
they would be unable to jump back to the start time. They would 'join our
heroes' after some time had passed. And possibly have missed some vital
plot twist. Which, to me, represents the best approach to what much
mainstream film is supposed to be about (and how new media can expand the
experience): that is, giving a sense of realism. After all, we can leave
one group of friends, go see some others, and return to the first later,
and have missed some great gossip (well, I always do!).

The only way that viewers could see what they'd missed, might be to rerun
the presentation/film. This to me, separates multilinear narrative from
hyperlink forms, where there is that 'return' to point of departure, link
function (not always, I admit).

I'm aware that this view of multilinear possibilites is more a practical
one, than theoretical. But it's one I'm trying to come to terms with in my
MA at the moment.

cheers

Mark