While there are many topics of interest that I’d like to explore at some point and that would lend themselves well to a dissertation, some of the questions I entered into the Narrative Futures programme with and that I keep coming back to are: How can writing grow beyond its own boundaries of what is commonly done today? What if a novel weren’t only a novel? What is the future of the publishing industry? What storytelling forms are possible in publishing beyond merely words on a page?
While I’d certainly be interested in approaching the topic in an analytical way, I’m much more drawn to a creative exploration of these themes. For my final project, I’m currently leaning towards a short story/novella in the realm of speculative fiction, supplemented by a visual component that complements whatever message I end up wanting to convey. The forms this could take are varied and all have their unique intrigues and drawbacks: Graphic novels, web comics, illustrated hypertext stories, images supplemented by snippets of fiction, or something in between. A few years ago, I encountered a half-game, half-writing-prompt that showed sci-fi imagery and allowed the users to fill in the text boxes with their own writing; then print the completed work in a self-publishing format afterwards. And while that’s not what I want to do, a similarly interactive visual writing and reading experience is what I’d like to create.
I’m comfortable with the writing component of these ideas. I don’t have a clear subject or concept as of yet, but I know I have the skills and experience necessary to put my eventual ideas into text. However, as mentioned in earlier blogposts, I’m not experienced or particularly talented at visual arts, so that aspect would need further exploration and deliberation. Others have suggested the use of AI and image generators to me, and while that would certainly make things easier from a technical standpoint, it would also raise the question of copyright. If I want to use my dissertation as part of my creative portfolio, then I wouldn’t be comfortable including components that I can’t, either legally or morally, fully claim as my own.
While it would be possible to restrict the dissertation to only text, or technologically enhanced text without visuals, I would really like to push myself to create something that I could not do right now, but will hopefully be able to do once the time comes. I’d also like to make the interdisciplinarity of the course a vital part of the final outcome. With the majority of my courses still ahead of me, I’m currently not too worried about what that might look like, but it’s an aspect of my developing idea that I will (have to) make sure to keep an eye on.
s2587587
I think this approach is fascinating… Your concern about AI and copyright is very valid in the sense that it’s an ongoing discussion in the AI field. Given the time we have ahead, I think you could go in both directions: either develop the skills to create something yourself or do it with AI in a way you could appropriately acknowledge. I think the AI approach would be more interesting if you ask me. These are rapidly moving ethical and legal discussions that could find an answer in the coming weeks, so I would follow these discussions closely, and this could open up new possibilities for your project.
Anja Hendrikse Liu
I very much empathize with your struggle around wanting to include visual components but feeling unconfident in the technical skills required! A couple of possible approaches that came to mind for me while reading your post were a) playing with the spacing/shapes of words on the page, or even animations/movement of words if your final format allows it, or b) using photography integrated with text (obviously still requires a lot of skill, but might feel more approachable than something like painting or drawing)!
s2528722
It’s exciting that you’re interested in learning something new and letting your project idea follow along in your tracks. Do you see your major effort focused toward inventing a form, or telling a story? Obviously you can and hopefully will do both, but the way your interests versus comfort levels balance across the two might help you pin down whether you want to utilize an already open and experimental form like hypertext, challenge and reinvent something static like the printed short story, or try to create something brand new.
s2527177
I agree that you should not be ‘too worried about what that might look like’, and since the interdisciplinary aspect of this course is something you hope to benefit from I’m sure you can figure out a way to create authentic images that display your story without having to become particularly proficient at illustration. It could also be an enriching experience to try and communicate your narratives on a visual level, add a new perspective.
I’m curious to find out what kind of a story you come up with, to represent this future form for publishing:)