Major Production Project: Geo-Narrative
Geo-Narrative: http://goo.gl/maps/fJe5l
Rationale
For my Networked Media Productions Major Project, I have created a geo-narrative. A geo-narrative is a map, in this case edited with Google Maps, in which you plot points in order to tell a story. Using images and writing, I have told the story of Scratch Bastid, a fairy pirate on the quest for the teeth of the frightening Dande Lion, a predator famed for it’s medicinal fangs! Pretty cool right?
While the process went smoothly for the most part, my project was not without its problems and speed bumps. The story I focused on in my geo-narrative is based on another piece of writing I worked on last year during my gap year. It was in the form of a script, and originally I had planned to drag huge chunks from this script right into the geo-narrative. Unfortunately, after experimenting with this for quite some time, I decided that a) this method wouldn’t showcase original thought and creativity, b) it would result in an overwhelming amount of words, and c) the script format really wouldn’t flow in the geo-narrative context. It would seem very clunky and rough. So I set about rewriting each scene I wanted to include and creating new scenes where new scenes needed to be created. I finished with a writing component of the geo-narrative that flows nicely, doesn’t include scenes that ran for a thousand words each, and yet still paints a nice picture in the viewers mind.
Another problem I had was with the coding. After what felt like hours of tinkering with the HTML, I finally got it running smoothly. A stray > was holding me back. Definitely something I’ve learnt from!
Each scene I wanted to accompany with an image. We were allowed to include 10-12 images, and of these only 6 were to be the creations of other people. This meant that I had to choose artworks from the Internet carefully. It also meant that I would have to use my own talents to create a few images for the geo-narrative. I got to drawing, and because it really isn’t an impressive talent of mine, I had to labour to get these drawings up to standard. Finally, happy with the productions, I scanned them into my computer and edited them with a really great web-based editor called Pixlr. As I can’t afford the outrageously expensive Adobe Photoshop, Pixlr is a very able editor that can be used for free.
Once my drawings where finished it was time to gather some images that I did not create. My thoughts turned to a good friend of mine, Christopher Olalere, an architecture student now studying at the University of Canberra. Having sat next to Chris in numerous Maths classes during high school, I knew that he had a whole lot of artistic talent. I called him up and he agreed to collaborate with me on this project. He signed up for two artworks (one depicting Scratch sitting in the bar, another of the Dande Lion in full flight). Through numerous back and forth email conversations, we got the pieces just right, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. In fact, we are talking (albeit wishfully) about working together again in the future, possibly on a graphic novel based around this story!
I have for a while now admired the work of Bob Eggleton. Eggleton is a very prominent science fiction and fantasy artist who has won numerous awards over a number of years. I was browsing through his online gallery when I found an artwork that would work perfectly in my geo-narrative. I decided to email him, doubting that he would find time to reply and also doubting that he would grant me permission to use his art in my project. It was worth a shot anyway. So I sent him the following email:
G'day Bob!
I'm a big fan all the way from Australia! Canberra to be exact (the capital, though not too many people know that!). I'm writing this email in order to ask you whether or not I can use one of your paintings in a university assignment I am currently working on. The assignment is to create a custom map (using Google Maps), and plot points on the map, telling a story. On each plot point, we are to either write a paragraph or two, or insert a picture.
Naturally, I am telling the story of a band of fairy pirates.
The artwork that I have really taken a shine to is the one attached: an epic scene where a sea monster is attacking a ship. Of course this isn't for any monetary gain what so ever, so you have no need to worry there!
Let me know what you're answer is whenever you get time! It's due on the 10th of May, so I have a little bit of wiggle room!
Thank you very much.
Kind regards, Oliver
Only a few hours after I sent the email, he replied with a simple yes and a thank you for asking. Success! Using the same tactics, I contacted a few more artists from around various websites (deviantart, fanart-central, worth1000, and sheezyart) and gained permission to use their work. Despite the majority of them placing their work under Creative Commons, I felt it polite to talk to them about the project before sneaking off with their art.
Through sinking a few hours into researching geo-narratives and those who had completed them before me, I discovered that my idea would be unlike the majority of other geo-narratives, at least those created by people outside our course! Typically, geo-narratives have been used to display data("About The Geo-Narrative," 2010; MATSUMOTO, 2012), travel diaries, and important works of non-fiction (the story of American Indians in USA was an example of this type of narrative). While I definitely stood on the shoulders of these giants, like most do when creating something, I believe my approach of telling a story completely made up of fiction is something seldom seen when sifting through piles of geo-narratives. The format lends itself really well to the fantasy genre. Instead of flipping back to the map at the start of the book or piece, here the viewer simply follows the map and at each new destination, a new part of the story unfolds. It provides a level of interactivity that is rare when describing fairy pirates to your readers.
References
About The Geo-Narrative. (2010). from http://www.cs.uu.nl/research/projects/i-cult/CLE/3Geonar/Geonar.htm
MATSUMOTO, Ayako. (2012). Geo-Narrative analysis into the oral presentation texts about the cultural landscape consist of Kyo-machiya in Japan. Paper presented at the Qualitative GIS Symposium, New York.
Artwork Used:
haryarti, Rain, 2011, http://haryarti.deviantart.com/art/Rain-194185355?q=gallery%3Aharyarti%2F25198211&qo=34
louisstilling, Stormy Seas, 2013, http://louisstilling.deviantart.com/art/Stormy-Seas-368426006?q=gallery%3Alouisstilling%2F34918906&qo=4
The-Eggnog-Factory, The Deck, 2011, http://the-eggnog-factory.deviantart.com/art/The-Deck-252256499
Bob Eggleton, Sea Monster, 1992
Christopher Olalare, 2013
Remixed Images:
The Old Dock HD Wallpaper, neiio, TheThemeBin.com,