Academic year 2013-14

Audiovisual Languages and Interactive Narrative

Degree: Code: Type:
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science 21413 Compulsory subject, 1st year
Bachelor's Degree in Telematics Engineering 22603 Optional subject
Bachelor's Degree in Audiovisual Systems Engineering 21637 Optional subject

 

ECTS credits: 4 Workload: 100 hours Trimester: 3rd

 

Department: Dept. of Information and Communication Technologies / Dept. of Communication
Coordinator: Óliver Pérez
Teaching staff:

Óliver Pérez Latorre, Joaquim Colàs, Alan Tapscott
Language:

Spanish
Timetable:
Building: Communication campus - Poblenou

 

Introduction

Audiovisual Languages and Interactive Narrative is a mandatory subject of the first course of the bachelor in computer science. It offers a theoretical and analytical introduction to audiovisual narrative, audiovisual language and interactive narrative, and its complemented by practical exercises oriented to the application of theory.

 

Prerequisites

 

Associated competences

General competences

Instrumental:

1. Ability to apply theoretical models.

2. Ability to critically analyze and to consult and widen the proposed bibliography.

3. Ability to analyze, synthesize and organize information.

Interpersonal:

1. Ability to work in group and to develop synergies with other students.

2. Critical and selfcritical attitude regarding the works elaborated.

Systemic:

1. Theoretical and methodological knowledge.

2. Ability to apply theoretical and methodological principles in analysis and creation.

Specific competences

1. Acquire knowledge about naratology and the theoretical foundations of audiovisual language.

2. Acquire knowledge about the methods to analyze audiovisual narrative and interactive narrative works.

3. Ability to analyze audivisual interactive narrative.

4. Ability to plan an audivisual interactive narrative project.

 

 

Assessment

Asessment of the theoretical section:

- Exam. Prof.: Óliver Pérez. Value: 40% of global grade.

Assessment of the practical section. Profs.: Joaquim Colàs, Alan Tapscott. Value: 60% of global grade. Dividided in:

- Student participation in practical classes. Value: 10% of global grade.

- Group project. Value: 50% of global grade. Divided in:

Delivery of all the assignments is mandatory, so is the assitance to class the day of project presentations. Students that have not passed the theoretical section won't be able to pass the whole subject. Students that have not passed the practical section won't be able to pass the whole subject.

Make-up criteria:

- Theoretical section (40% of global grade): make-up exam. Conditions: Student must have assisted to the exam of regular course and have obtained at least 2.5 (out of 10)

- Practical section (60% of global grade):

 

Contents

THEORETICAL SECTION

Unit 1 - Narrative structures

- Foundations of the generative structure of narration

- Narrative program and the actantial structure

- Canonical narrative phases and the dramatic structure model

- The “discoursive level”: actors, spaces and staging

- Enunciative structure and focalization

Unit 2 - Audiovisual language

- Foundations of audiovisual language and temporality construction

- Foundations of visual planning in screenwriting

Unit 3 - Foundations of interactive narrative and videogame design

- Hypertext and non-linear narrative models. Fictional worlds construction and immersion.

- Relationships beween game design and narrative in videogames.

- The non-diegetic dimension in interactive narrative: interfaces, learning assistance, implicit designer and model-user.

 

PRACTICAL SECTION

Practical classes

- Desing of audiovisual-interactive experiences:

- Introduction to development tools of interactive experiences:

Group project: students work

- Development of an audiovisual-interactive project: “Choose your own adventure”

 

Methodology

This subject comprehends diverse learning activities:

- Theoretical contents, including lectures, visual and audiovisual case studies in class, and an exam.

- Practical classes, development of exercises and a group project related to audiovisual/interactive production, coordinated by the practical section professors.

- Students work out of the classroom: reading of theoretical bibliography; group project development.

 

 Hours in classroom
Out of classroom
 Whole group
Medium group
Small group 

Theory

20

 

 

24

Practice

    

16 each group

40

Total:

 

 

 

 

Total: 100

 

 

Resources

Main bibliography

Courtés, J. (1997) Análisis semiótico del discurso: del enunciado a la enunciación. Madrid: Gredos

Jost, F. and Gaudreault, A. (1995) El relato cinematográfico. Barcelona: Paidós

Pérez Latorre, Ó. (2012) El lenguaje videolúdico. Barcelona: Laertes

 

Complementary bibliography

Aranda, D. and De Felipe, F. (2006) Guión audiovisual. Barcelona: UOC

Bordwell, D. (1996) La narración en el cine de ficción. Barcelona: Paidós

Bordwell, D. and Thompson, K. (1993) El arte cinematográfico. Barcelona: Paidós

Casetti, F. and Di Chio, F. (1996) Cómo analizar un film. Barcelona: Paidós

Murray, J. (1999) Hamlet en la Holocubierta. El futuro de la narativa en el ciberespacio. Barcelona: Paidós

Juul, J. (2005) Half-Real: videogames between real rules and fictional worlds. Cambridge: MIT Press

Scolari, C. A. (2004) Hacer clic. Hacia una sociosemiótica de las interacciones digitales. Barcelona: Gedisa

Scolari, C. A. (2008) Hipermediaciones. Elementos para una teoría de la comunicación digital interactiva. Barcelona: Gedisa

 

Bibliography of practical section:

Harrigan P. and N. Wardrip-Fruin N. (2004) First Person: New Media as Story, Performance and Game. Cambridge: MIT Press

 

Other learning resources:

- PowerPoint presentations

- Projection of videos in class and case studies through the analysis of audiovisual sequences