Introduction to Avatars of Story
Having just completed reading the Introduction to Avatars of Story, I find myself brimming with questions about it. Of particular interest are the 4 types of "current" theories concerning the impact of the computer on the idea of narrative.
Of the four theories, only the practical approach can be readily seen, and it is also the one that seems clearest in goal. The use of the computer to broadcast narratives is clear, particularly with the advent of the internet, which now allows anyone to access this narrative form. In fact, the internet has revolutionized the way that common people can tell their story. Previously, film and cinematography were barred to those who had a surplus of cash, and writing was barred to those who could find the time to write and someone willing to publish it. Even then, finding someone to read it could be a difficult task.
To reveal your story over the internet, however, one simply needs to find the right web site, or easily create one of their own. This blog is an example of how simple it is for anyone to create and tell their narrative.
However, the other three options make less sense. The metaphorical and traditional approaches are both based off of technology that doesn't even exist. Until it does, how can someone believe that this is the "new" form of narrative? It may never even exist ar all, thus barring these people to the realm of theory rather than practicality.
Even more useless is the Expansionist theory. This theory seems centered on the idea that computers will lead to a new type of narratology all together. To me, this seems unintelligent. A new idea does not simply appear suddenly for all the world to know and love instantly. Like evolution, ideas develop over time. When the first printing press was made in Germany, it is highly unlikely that the creator would have known what it would eventually lead to in today's modern society. Changes over time caused narratology to change as well with this new, easily accessable medium.
It seems to me that the supporters of this theory are incredibly arrogant to believe that they can discover this new narratology, and so make their name go down in history. The greatest men find their place in history through history's judgement of that man and his actions. A man who's goal in life is to make the history books is a man who is trying too hard.
Metaphor, Tradition, and Expansion
I'm glad to see you working through the specific topics of Ryan's chapter. There seems to be some confusion on a couple of points here, so I just want to try and clarify. Hopefully it made more sense in the class discussion we had on this passage, but I want to at least underscore a couple of ideas.
First, you're right on in your characterization of the "practical approach," and while I wouldn't put it in such strident tones, I have to agree that your idea of what's being expanded in the expansionist approach is basically correct.
Regarding the metaphorical and traditional approaches, it's important to remember what's being approached here. Think of these four loose categories as ways of answering questions like, "What is narrative? What kind of thing is it? What are its constituent parts? [and most importantly] What does narrative have to do with New Media?"
The practical approach says, "it doesn't matter what narrative is. we tell stories and it just so happens that New Media lets us tell more stories to more people"
The metaphorical approach says, "narrative helps us make New Media technologies better because it gives us metaphors we can use to help people make sense of complex things like New Media."
The traditional approach says that narrative is a principle underlying stories and that when we understand how narrative works, we can better understand all forms of expression. But New Media itself doesn't force us to reconsider how narrative works.
Finally, the expansionist approach says that New Media does indeed force us to reconsider how narrative works, and we should expand that definition to include things that are only available now that we have New Media.
Those are some broad strokes, but I hope it helps frame the categories a little better. We kind of just marched through it in class (and then got on some interesting sidetracks about photographic vs. painterly representation), but maybe its helpful to see it rephrased here.
At any rate, this is just an introduction to the kinds of thinking people do about narrative and New Media, and we'll explore some of these specific ideas in a few weeks. At that point it will be easier when we see what kinds of arguments people are making.