Talk at Narrative Strategies - Future Perspectives on techniques for the design of narrative experiences. Madeira, 4th & 5th December 2012.

1. Future Perspectives on techniques for the design of
narrative experiences, Madeira, 4th&5th December 2012
Storytelling Evolution, Body and Physicality
Nelson Zagalo, University of Minho
Madeira, Portugal 5th December 2012

2. Nature is made of interdependency, the principle that rules all network
systems.

3. In all these years, our brains co-evolved along with
language, and with the process we now call storytelling, which
probably is the most elaborated “technology” in transmission of
information ever created by humans and for humans.

4. Storytelling is a communication model, and one the best ways of
understanding the world around us, because it allows us to understand the
Other, feel the Other, and feel for the Other, and thus enrich the power of
the social web through a simple process of communication.

5. A very simple structure, but a
structure that fully activates our brain
chemistry, activating the basic
components necessary for the
understanding and retention of
information.

6. Mckee (1997)
the minimalist aesthetic innovation models and anti-
structure in various forms of artistic expression
(literature, movies, etc.)… but what about the
audience?

7. audience
The audience, and what about the reader?

8. The reader and the cognitive interaction.

9. New layer for human communication in continuous mode.

10. Story
(content)
Interactive Linear
Non-linear
Storytelling Multi-Linear
(plot)
Emergent
Form
Shaping the new communication layer

11. Choose Your Own Adventure (1970’s) Tree of exploding ends
creating new technologies that go beyond traditional
means of expression as hypertext...

12. Myst (1993)
interactivity with
the story
Ico (2001)
interactivity with
the representation
creating new technologies that go beyond traditional
means of expression as videogames...

13. Response to the engagement problems in interactive narratives…
a new technology to help creators designing for emotions.
Developed as a prototype, and at some point started to develop
as plug-in for Blender but never finished and never released.

14. the bottom line of storytelling
“empathy and sympathy start not in the higher regions
of imagination, or the ability to consciously reconstruct
how we would feel if we were in someone else’s
situation. It began much simpler, with the
synchronization of bodies: running when others
run, laughing when others laugh, crying when others
cry, or yawning when others yawn. Most of us have
reached the incredibly advanced stage at which we
yawn even at the mere mention of yawning - as you
may be doing right now! - but this is only after lots of
face-to-face experience.”
(De Wall, 2009:51)

15. engageLab now…
Pushing physicality
boundaries can be a
powerful approach to
push experimentalism in
the storytelling process.
Not counting only on the
single power of brain and
imagination, but pushing
for the use of full body in
accessing the effects of
engageBook prototype 01
storytelling.
engageBook prototype 02

16. engageLab now…

17. Universidade do Minho
Storytelling Evolution, Body and Physicality
Nelson Zagalo, nzagalo@ics.uminho.pt
Blog: http://virtual-illusion.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nelsonzagalo
Home: http://nelsonzagalo.googlepages.com
Lab: http://engagelab.org