A fascinating aspect of storytelling is that it is constantly evolving. Reflecting on the early 20th century, writers and poets such as James Joyce, William Carlos Williams, and Gertrude Stein began experimenting with new styles of narrative and form which drove the Modernist literary movement forward. The central goal was to leave tradition behind. Now, with the access of digital platforms, this experimentalism in storytelling can only be dialed up. Not only does it change the way people tell stories, but it also impacts the communities that are built around these stories, particularly the accessibility made available through the digital age. Digital stories are also offering a more immersive experience for narratives. Especially when considering the capacity of virtual reality, authors can easily engage all the senses of their audience.
As the storytelling method changes, the defining characteristics of what constitutes a story can be complicated. Stories must have plot, characters, point of view, setting, and theme. These factors ensure the story is about something and harbors connection to the real world. This is not to say these attributes are exclusively arranged in a traditional manner. They can be experimentally rearranged, but each attribute is essential for a story to be a story.
“Seven Short Stories About Drones” – Teja Cole
Cole draws upon traditional writing through the more modern form of flash fiction, alluding to famous anthologized novels. The shortness of each piece serves as a testament to the suddenness of modern warfare. This collection connects to its audience, meeting them in a place of familiarity and asking the audience to interpret the grim reality of society’s moral standing.
“A Cautionary Tale” – G Tyler Mills
Mills uses an Amazon review to shatter all narrative expectations. Context is always an important factor when thinking about audience reception, and Mills, in this Amazon review, catches his audience off guard and delivers a captivating story. He flips the function of this digital platform and uses experimental conventions to frame his narrative.
Reader Comments: For The New York Times’ “Homestyle Spaghetti Carbonara” Recipe”
This story is unique because it is authored by multiple people who build off of one running joke. As this story snowballs in absurdity, the content becomes more engaging. Digital technology allows these comment sections to take on stories of their own and open new avenues for creativity.
Reflection
All three of these stories show that narrative conventions are evolving, and as this experimentation continues, digital storytelling techniques will continue to catch people off guard. This novelty is exciting, and it will ultimately allow more room for creativity. Storytelling is becoming much more interactive, whether the audience is asked to interpret a series of flash fiction tweets or contribute to a comment thread about a spaghetti recipe. Now, storytelling is not only comprised in published literature, but it is embedding itself deeper and deeper into the mundane.