Our transmedia projects took a small break this week, as we took time to more closely examine the week’s complex set reading: Signs, Systems and Complexity of Transmedia Storytelling by Renira Gambarato.  Taking the time in class to unpack the piece once more was highly beneficial, and like most of the denser readings, after breaking it down, it became a lot easier to understand – except perhaps for Gambarato’s use of algebra to explain one of his theories.

However, Gambarato’s reading and the relevance it had with our transmedia project quickly became clear, as he describes transmedia story as being seen as a “super system composed of nested systems”, where the system is the story.  The unfolding of elements and discovery of content is what is important to successful transmedia storytelling.  If these elements do not add to the story, then they are rendered unnecessary.  Gambarato continues, elaborating Henry Jenkins’ concept of ‘performance’, explaining how both interactivity and participation are key elements in order to gain a relationship with an audience.  The narrative likely aims to bring together an audience who share common interests and goals, to greater encourage the need between the participants to interact with the story.

In many ways, Gambarato’s journal article reinforces many of Troy Innocent’s pointers from last week’s lecture, and will again inspire more discussion from our group as we discuss this ‘reward’ we need to ensure we provide our audience with.