In digital storytelling it matters what stories we tell and throug which medium we tell them. Does it also matter how we produce them?
The ‘Rethinking storytelling tools’ research lab consists of two parts a symposium and an art-lab. In the symposium part we will focus on understanding the tools digital media artist/designers work with. We will focus on tools used in digital storytelling; in other words the software used in multimedia production (image, audio and video editing; production of 2D and 3D graphics; animation etc.) and the social software used to publish the stories (blogs, micro-content pages, social media networks etc.). The idea is to rethink our production practices and questioning what tools should we use and why? In the second part we get into creating stories and test the tools that embed qualities and values that we defined important.
SYMPOSIUM: UNDERSTANDING
Cross-media storytelling, social media fiction, guerrilla marketing, culture jamming and other similar art-practices rely heavily on the use of social software as well as on software for multimedia editing and publishing. Yet we know or care little about what lies behind the platforms and software we use (at least until we get into trouble). Too often we agree with the ‘Terms of use/service’ without really grasping their meaning. We are not the only ones dreaming of decentralized, trustworthy and secure social networks without adds as well as free ‘libre’/ free open production software. So a lot of the posts under ‘Rethinking storytelling tools’ will be looking into how others define ethical software. Additionally we will question if there are other qualities we should look into when rethinking our production & publishing tool kit. In this case qualities refers to something else than an intuitive interfaces or a rich effects library. In this research lab we are interested to discuss and figure out what ethical qualities and values are embedded in the tools we use for creative production. And if good enough alternatives are still something we are waiting for, are the tactics we can use to promote focus on qualities we find important.
For the ‘Understanding’ part an experts panel in free ‘libre’/ free open software, decentralized networks and alternative business models will be invited to Linz to discuss what qualities we should look for when rethinking our storytelling tools. During a symposium we will try to shape a list of qualities and there after start mapping what what available tools fill our criteria. Again there are a number of initiatives working on reviewing tools and instead of re-inventing the wheel we will learn from other projects adding our focus to the discourse.
ART-LAB: CREATE
In the art-lab we put our new toolbox on test. What kind of digital stories can we create with these tools? A group of artist and creative practitioners come together to test out the collection of storytelling tools. The artistic outcome will be interventions in form of digital fiction reflecting upon the discussions made in the symposium. In this case digital fiction refers to practices like ‘Netprov’ or ‘Recombinat fiction’, as stories that unfold on social networks and micro-content platforms. Right after the symposium we continue with an extended weekend working together experimenting both with the tools and the digital fiction genre. It will be a playful weekend, nevertheless with a critical approach to our own art practices.
The participation for the art-lab will be announced through an open call (artists will also take part in the one day symposium prior to the art-lab). The extended weekend will take place in october or november 2015. More details information will be published later. Interest in the project can be expressed anytime and we make sure you get all the updates.
The process and outcome of the research lab will be published on this blog and presented at AMRO 2016.