8/4/2019 Syllabus Atec 6351 (Mofs) Updated
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Course Syllabus: ATEC 6356.501
MECHANICS OF STORYCourse Information
INTERACTIVE STORY 1: MECHANICS OF STORYCourse: ATEC 6356.501
Day/Time: WED 7:00 PM - 9:45 PM Room: ATC_2.605
Class Blog: adambrackin.com/mechanics-of-story
Professor Contact Information: [email protected]
([email protected])Adam L. Brackin, Ph.D Research Assistant
Professor, ATEC - University of Texas at DallasOFFICE: ATC_2.913
(OFFICE PHONE: 972-883-4350) Alternate: 214-354-6161OFFICE HOURS:
Monday & Wednesday 10:30-11:30 & 1:15-3:30 (& other
times by appointment)
Course DescriptionWhen you consider the millennia of
storytelling that comprise our literary tradition, it is easy to
feel overwhelmed by theshadow of so many works. But there are
common threads that link all stories--from Beowulf and Hamlet to
Gone Withthe Wind and The Godfather to the story you are drafting
right now in your head. These threads form the foundation
thatsupports story whether you are writing a novel, a memoir,
screenplay, video game, or other "alternate reality" world.
Thisclass explores both historically traditional storytelling
models and new models which require recognition of the balance
of
aesthetic story and mechanics within new media storytelling.
Topics include linear and non-linear storytelling methodsacross
multimedia and trans-media methods of delivery with a focus on 1)
reading/viewing/playing stories, 2) criticalanalysis of
storytelling mechanics in various works, 3) creating and publishing
original student works using the mostmodern and appropriate
new-media methods such as social networking tools. We will examine
a range of topics,including storytelling in a multiplayer
environment; narrative techniques for a 3,000,000-page novel;
continuity (or theimpossibility of it) in pervasive fictional
worlds; managing multiple intertwined narratives; the spatial
experience of virtualworlds; Emergent adventure texts created by
designers and fans; and the serial storytelling, among many other
essentialinsights into how fictions are constructed and maintained
in very different forms of media through to the beginning of
thetwenty-first century. Students must be actively enrolled in or
officially auditing this class in order to attend it dueto UTD
policy, fire code, and very real seating restrictions.
Student Learning Objectives/OutcomesStudents will examine the
range of media available for storytelling. Students will learn to
think critically about various
storytelling issues and gain exposure to seminal examples of
various writers and researchers in the field. Students willalso
learn how to critique and analyze new media forms, and how to
present this critical review in ways that areappropriate to the
ever-evolving genre. Students will engage in discussion and debate
with each other and withdevelopers in the field where appropriate
through a class blog. Finally, students will create original IP in
various classicand new media formats to demonstrate a fluency and
proficiency in the above concepts.
Recommended Reading and Materials
The Hero with a Thousand Facesby Joseph Campbell (Hardcover),
New World Library, (July 28, 2008) 1577315936
The Art And Craft Of Storytelling: A Comprehensive Guide to
Classic Writing Techniquesby Nancy Lamb (Paperback) F&W Media,
Inc., (December 15, 2008) 1582975590
The Heros Journeyby Harold Bloom (Hardcover), Facts On File,
Inc. (January 30, 2009) 0791098036
Third Person: Authoring and Exploring Vast Narrativesby Pat
Harrigan (Hardcover) MIT Press (May 29, 2009) 0262232634
Quests: Design, Theory, and History in Games and Narrativesby
Jeff Howard (Paperback), A K Peters Ltd (February 26, 2008)
156881347
(And selected short readings online and given in class as well
as various selections from the book list - TBD.)
**You will also need to purchase a blank notebook journal of any
style you like for the D4/D5**
Course Syllabus Page 1
STORY
8/4/2019 Syllabus Atec 6351 (Mofs) Updated
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Course Content, Assignments, & Academic CalendarStudents
will complete reading assignments throughout the semester followed
by group discussion and individualanalysis on the class blog as a
part of a daily participation grade. Students will turn in five
additional deliverablesthroughout the semester: first by keeping a
DAILY Story Journal, which will be supplemented by various WEEKLY
StoryDrills, then by reading and critically analyzing a story
example through a Critical Analysis (and Presentation) and
finallycreating an Original Intellectual Property Story in an
appropriate (new) media genre. A more detailed description of
theweekly reading assignments and other requirements will be posted
each week on the Class Blog:adambrackin.com/mechanics-of-story
Note: Case Studies are tentative, flexible, and subject to change
as new medianever stops especially for academics such as
ourselves.
(Course requirements or due-dates may be amended or changed;
such changes will be given in writing, with sufficient advance
notice for completion.)
MECHANICSAXIS
STORY AXIS
MECHA
NICS
AXIS
STORY AXIS
MONOMYTH & LINEAR MODELSNARRATIVE DEPTH OF CONTEXT &
EPICS
INTERACTIVE MODELS
NON-LINEAR MODELS
MULTI-LINEAR STORY
ERGODIC NARRATIVE
MEC
HANICSAXIS
STORY AXIS
CHA
RACTER
AND
HERO
PLOTANDC
ONFLICT
SETT
INGA
ND
SITUATION
P.O.V.&NARRATIVE
MOD
E
THEMEA
ND
TONE
Attendance and Grading PolicyWhile I dont take attendance for
graduate courses, students are generally expected to attend ALL
classes unless you have a special circumstance inwhich case, as a
courtesy, please contact me in advance by phone or email. Late work
will be dropped by one letter grade (10 points) for each week itis
late without exception. If there is a conflict, please turn it in
early.
Weekly Class & Blog Participation
--------------------------------- 15% of total gradeD1: Critical
Analysis --------------------------------------------------- 10% of
total grade
D2: Comparative Analysis
------------------------------------------- 15% of total gradeD3:
Original IP Story / Presentation--------------------------------
25% of total gradeD4: Daily Story Journal (100 entries)----
------------------------- 20% of total gradeD5: Weekly Story Drills
(actual/possible) ------------------------ 15% of total grade
This class relies heavily on discussion and class participation,
and a high level of professionalism and good citizenship is
expected.Attention should be given to the speaker at all times and
respect shown as expected within the university classroom
environment.Appropriate multi-tasking is permitted only so long as
it does not interfere with the high expectations described above.
This DOESNOT include personal use of the lab computers, social
media sites, games, etc unless directly related to instruction at
that moment.
Any student who attends all classes, completes all coursework on
time, and whose deliverables all meet the high standards expectedof
a UTD graduate student, will receive an A in this course.
Course Syllabus Page 2
A THEORETICAL GRIDMATRIX OF STORY ANDMECHANICS ELEMENTS
8/28/2011 WHY MOFS? / INTRO
9/4/2011 MONOMYTH
9/11/2011 CHARACTER
9/18/2011 CONTEXT & EPIC
9/25/2011 PLOT
10/2/2011 INTERACTIVE (D1
DUE)
10/9/2011 SETTING
10/16/2011 NON-LINEAR
10/23/2011 NARR MODE (D2 DUE)10/30/2011 MULTI-LINEAR /
ERGODIC
11/6/2011 THEME/TONE
11/13/2011 PRESENTATIONS 1
11/20/2011 PRESENTATIONS 2
11/28/2011 FALL BREAK
12/5/2011 P3? (D3, D4 &D5
DUE)
*The above is a generalized schedule
of topics. I expect that we will get a littleahead or behind
depending on variousfactors and the depth and complexity of
There are five deliverables for this class NOT includingany
weekly homework or small blogged assignments(which count towards
the daily participation grade).This class will be graded on a
standard 10 pointgrading scale for all deliverables. Grade weights
willbe determined as follows:
