Analysis of language in interactive narratives

1. Language and Immersion
Adriana Morales | Feb 24, 2014 | COMM.4780

2. Capitol Couturehttp://capitolcouture.pn/
Designed as an online magazine featuring haute couture of
Panem’s capitol district, Capitol Couture is a marketing tool for
the Hunger Games series.The website blurs the line between the
world of the film and our own.
The quote below essentially summarizes the purpose of the
interactive narrative and its’ ideals:
“Capitol Couture embraces the cultural abundance of fall,
awash in the glory of the Quarter Quell. From the red
carpet galas to the enlightening Games, we salute our
Victors at every step.”
Capitol Couture exalts fashion, beauty, and bloodlust. Fall is
“embraced” in the bloodshed and “glory” of men killing each
other.
Spatial Immersion (Sense of Place)
Throughout the website, the glory and splendor of the Roman
empire is alluded in the latin phrases such as “Ignis
Glace” (which translates to Fire Ice).Although the phrases are
poetic, they indicate an air of ostentation and luxury.
Combined with the striking visuals, the flamboyant fashion
writing is used to show a cosmopolitan culture that is
reminiscent of today’s fashion society. Readers are given the
sense of a futuristic, dystopian alternate universe.
Spaito-temporal Immersion
Written as a high-end fashion magazine that “advertises” the
Quarter Quell champions, readers are presented with articles
and images that transport them into a coldly materialistic
world. Former victors are treated as assets in a marketing
promotion and fashion canvases rather than as human beings.

3. Articles are written by actual fashion designers from our
world and feature different profiled characters.The references
and article authors lend credibility to the magazine. However,
the Hunger Games characters are dehumanized and glorified as
indicated in this quote “I love creating a fantasy around a
woman’s body.” In the articles, direct discourse is used
between the interview and interviewee.As well, third-person
narration and present tense is used to bring the events of
Panem into our world.
Emotional Immersion
Readers are forced to view their favorite characters as
exploited, mere objects of beauty.They are left questioning if
this alternate world is an actual reality.With this much
blurring between the world of the film and our own, readers
question if they would feel good shopping the Capitol Couture
line. If they buy the clothes, then they would be buying into
the very thing that the original author, Suzanne Collins, was
trying to warn us against—materialism, greed, and hedonism.
Capitol Couture evokes the reader to question their morality
while spiking their curiosity in understanding an outlandish
world.
Interactivity
Links and menus are designed to mimic the table of contents
of a magazine. For instance, on the landing page users are
given the option to click on “Issue 1”,“Issue 2,”“Issue 3”—all
of which are different stories—as if it were the seasonal
releases of Vogue magazine.
Lastly, Capitol Couture embraces social media. Built on
Tumblr’s blogging system, Capitol Couture allows users to
easily reblog and share content without limits.

4. Legend of Korra:
http://www.nick.com/games/legend-of-korra-welcome-to-republic-city.html
Legend of Korra:Welcome to Republic City is an online game that
allows users to explore theTV series’ environment and learn
more about the characters. It’s interactivity and modern-day
language brings the characters and world to life.
Spatial Immersion (Sense of Place)
Republic City is based an a 1920s NewYork City meets
Shanghai cultural mashup.Throughout the narrative, 1920s
slang and cultural icons such as cars and gangs are used to
create a sense of time.As well, Chinese,Thai, Indian and
Japanese names are used to show the series’Asian influence.
Readers are expected to find references toAsian and western
culture.As well, the readers expect the world and character
dialog to follow the original series, Avatar:the Last Airbender.
The madeleine effect is shown in the references to the
previous show by including old characters.
Spatio-temporal Immersion
The narrative includes a historical timeline that gives the
reader sense of time and place. History adds another degree of
realism and tangibility to the world the characters inhabit.
Multiple character perspectives are used to show their
personality while further setting the stage of their place in the
show. By allowing the characters to speak directly to the user,
it creates user engagement and gives them insight into the
character. For example, the characterTarrlok (shown on far
bottom left) tells the user,“If you’ll excuse me, I am very busy.
If you want someone to entertain you I’m sure you can find
some street kids at Central City Station.” His statement shows
his blunt and haughty personality.
Welcome to Republic City

5. Direct discourse and present tense unravels the story in
realtime and immerse the user in another world.The entire
story is written in second-person narration to allow the user
to interact with the characters.As well, it creates a more
personal experience.
Emotional Immersion
The interactive narrative generates excitement and intrigue
surrounding the series.Although users become acquainted
with the characters and environments, it leaves room for
curiosity to grow.The visually rich illustrations and music
reveal an interesting culture that similar to ours but vastly
different.The 1920s jazz infusion,Western ideals, andAsian
culture create a new world.
Interactivity
Although the story uses a linear navigation, the user is able to
click on different objects in a non sequential order.After each
environment is unlocked, users are given the freedom to
explore the world further by jumping back and forth to
different places. The link names are the name of physical
locations in Republic City, which creates a spatial environment
in the story.