Fragmented narratives in space : exploring storytelling approaches for animated installations

• Main Author: Lea, Vidakovic
• Other Authors: Daniel Keith Jernigan
• Format: Thesis-Doctor of Philosophy
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2020
• Subjects: Visual arts and music::Animation
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/137651
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Animation is considered a pervasive medium in contemporary moving image culture, which increasingly appears across non-conventional surfaces and spaces. And while storytelling in animation films has been theorized, narrative forms that employ physical space as part of storytelling in animation have been less explored. Thus, the aim of this research is to add new knowledge to this area. In order to achieve this, the narrative aspect of animated installations—animation works that are screened in spaces other than single screen-based theatrical venues—are examined. The focus is on how these animations tell stories differently using the full potential of the space as a narrative device, a tool, and a stage on which the narratives unfold. This thesis looks at the historical perspective and the state of the art of animated installations today, exploring the relationship between the space and narrative in pre-cinematic, cinematic and post-cinematic conditions. The manner in which narrative structures in animation have changed on their way from the black box of the cinema to the white cube of the gallery are explored, as well as where they became part of any space or architecture. The interdependency of the narrative and the space where it appears are explored, in order to identify new strategies for storytelling in animation. This research project consists of a theoretical and a practical component. The theoretical framework is structured to support the exploration and function of fragmented narratives, in cases when they appear in spatial contexts, often on multiple screens outside the cinema venue. Since animation is an interdisciplinary form, this topic is approached from the perspective of a variety of disciplines, paying particular attention to the specific characteristics that are intrinsic to animation. Therefore, this researcher examines how the specific language of animation determines and shapes the new narrative structures that evolve in spaces other than single screen-based theatrical venues. The practical component of this research comprises the production of a multi-screen animated installation prototype made in traditional puppet animation. Titled The Family Portrait, this work shows a fragmented story of a (dys)functional family, which directly addresses the research topic, namely fragmented narratives and spatial storytelling. It functions as an integral part of the research as a whole, whereby the on-going theoretical explorations inform the practical studio based work, and vice versa. The purpose of this research is to investigate new storytelling approaches that particularly support storytelling for animated installations. The intent is to place traditional animation in contemporary context by adapting traditional forms of animation to a variety of spaces including museums, galleries and a range of public spaces. This researcher explores and develops novel methods of storytelling that animation installations might offer, beyond the narrative structures used in single screen-based theatrical venues.