Post on 01-Nov-2014
description
Serial Orientations: Mapping the Narrative
Worlds of Contemporary Complex Television
Jason Mittell (@jmittell)Middlebury College, Vermont, USA
Lichtenberg-Kolleg, University of Göttingen (2011-12)http://justtv.wordpress.com
http://tinyurl.com/complextv
Serial Orientations: Mapping the Narrative
Worlds of Contemporary Complex Television
Commercial US Television
accessibility
Commercial US Television
accessibility
least objectionable content
Commercial US Television
innovations of meanings & form
Commercial US Television
narrative complexity
orienting paratexts
orienting paratexts
categories of
a television serial creates a sustained narrative universe, populated by a consistent set of characters who
experience a chain of events over time
a television serial creates a sustained narrative universe, populated by a consistent set of characters who
experience a chain of events over time
Time
Events
Characters
Space
Time
TimeStory Time Plot Time Screen Time
TimeStory Time Plot Time Screen Time
TimeStory Time Plot Time Screen Time
TimeStory Time Plot Time Screen Time
Schedule as Orientation
TimeStory Time Screen TimePlot Time
TimeStory Time Screen TimePlot Time
TimeStory Time Screen TimePlot Time
TimeStory Time Screen TimePlot Time
Chronology as Orientation
TimeStory Time Screen TimePlot Time
TimeStory Time Screen TimePlot Time
TimeStory Time Screen TimePlot Time
Calendaring as Orientation
Time
Time
Time
Time
Time
Time
Recapitulation
Recapitulation
Analysis
Recapitulation
Analysis
Expansion
Screen Time:Schedule
Plot Time:Chronology
Story Time:Calendar
Recapitulation
Analysis
Expansion
Plot Recapitulation (Events)
Plot Recapitulation (Events)
Event Analysis
Event Analysis
Event Analysis
Plot Expansions
Plot Expansions
Plot Expansions
Plot Expansions
Character Recaps
Character Recaps
Character Analyses
Character Analyses
Character Analyses
Character Analyses
Character Expansions
Character Expansions
Character Expansions
Spatial Orientations
Spatial Orientations
Spatial Orientations
Spatial Orientations
Spatial Orientations
Spatial Orientations
4.815 N 162.342 W
Lost, “Lockdown” (2006)
Locke’s attempt to recreate map (solo effort)
Lost screen-capture
Annotated Map @ 1 hour
Annotated Map @ 8 hours
Annotated Map @ 16 hours
Annotated Map @ 24 hours
Other Annotated Maps
Other Annotated Maps
Entertainment Weekly’s “official” Annotated Map
from Lost jigsaw puzzle
from Lost: Via Domus videogame
original production map
So What?
So What?
•Complexity demands orientation
So What?
•Complexity demands orientation
• Television activates audiences
So What?
•Complexity demands orientation
• Television activates audiences
•Orientation as transformational fandom & play
So What?
•Complexity demands orientation
• Television activates audiences
•Orientation as transformational fandom & play
• Room for growth in complex spatial storytelling
Thank you!
Jason Mittell (@jmittell)Middlebury College, Vermont, USA
Lichtenberg-Kolleg, University of Göttingen (2011-12)http://justtv.wordpress.comhttp://tinyurl.com/complextv