The Flip Side of Narrative
Michael Voitovich
The Farm 51, Game Designer
- When:
- 15.07.2022, 12:00–13:00
- Hall:
- Red Sea Hall (game Design)
Contrary to the stereotype, narrative is first and foremost not about writing out events and characters, nor is it the plot or the script. First and foremost, it is about creating a story and a world that start living their own life without the author's involvement. Let's look at how this works in practice and shapes the required emotional response in the player.
What the talk is about
Michael Voitovich argues that narrative is not a plot, a story or a tale, but the experience of the listener, reader or player, who generates meaning on their own. He traces how views changed, from classical faith in reason and absolute truths to modernism, which exposed the limits of science and logic, so a large part of what we know about the world comes from stories. He looks at archetypes, fabula and plot through Vladimir Propp's research and the figure of Baba Yaga, and explains the roles of narrator and listener, the unreliable narrator, and first-, second- and third-person storytelling. His key point is that a strong narrative builds a world, shifts perspective and creates action, and a story lives on without its author when it leaves room for the audience to create meaning. Useful for game designers and writers.