Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 10
Experiments with the theatrical Greek
chorus as a model for interactions with
computational narrative systems
Carol Strohecker, Kevin M. Brooks, and Larry Friedlander
Media Lab. Europe, Dublin; Motorola, Cambridge, MA; Stanford
University, CA
Introduction
This chapter presents explorations of narrative systems with which users inter-
act in manners reminiscent of the chorus in ancient Greek theater. We review
structure and roles of the theatrical chorus, describe how these informed an
interactive narrative prototype for a single-user platform, and conclude with a
“what-if?” inquiry for systems in which multiple simultaneous interactors use
tangible or otherwise palpable computational objects to facilitate and reflect
actions and conversation.
The first experiment is largely structural: players' interactions unfold pro-
gressively finer detail about the story, but do not change the course of events or
fundamentally modify the characters (Strohecker et al. 1999). Players interact
mainly by querying representations of chorus members, who comment on the
narrative from different perspectives. Here we consider how the chorus model
might be pushed further, such that viewers
become
chorus members in some
more direct sense, thereby contributing to the choral aspect of the narrative
system as it grows over time. The discussion includes the psychological pro-
cess of introjection and how it could guide thinking about systems that change
based on players' interactions. The usefulness of considering this psychological
process with regard to systems development has to do with humans' affinity
for manipulating objects and imbuing them with meanings that can be shared
or personal.
