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intermedia narrative
From Metaphilm's new essay about the new Matrix:
"The Wachowskis have convinced most consumers that in order to properly understand and interpret their story (to 'get' it, in cult terminology), you first have to do the job of being a good consumer by buying everything that offers clues (but no answers) to the ultimate meaning—thus you must buy the video game to get the rest of the story, you must buy the soundtrack to unlock levels and meanings of the video game, you must listen to the lyrics to 'get' insights into the film’s story, and you must buy the Animatrix series of nine shorts in order to get the back-stories and side-stories, in addition to which you must visit the official WB website in order to really be on top of it all. Many have done all of this, and more."
From my position as a critic of capitalism, I want to criticize what the Wachowskis are doing / have done here—although from my position as a person who's interested in narrative technologies, I have to admit that their ability to orchestrate an intermedia narrative that succeeds on a mass scale is impressive. This way lies the future. |
Thursday, August 14, 2003
10:40 AM
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