‘Surprise’ the only genuine requirement in narrative storytelling says Amy. I’m in total agreement however these themes, although relevant and important in todays connected world, are not new. Shakespeare was demonstrating exactly the same principle and his narrativer arc has been the basis for many a blockbuster.

Compelling cues have also been the rock of storytelling in all genre; news, drama, comedy etc but why should we drop them just because the web provides extra capability or interactivity. And why, if these elements are key to our experience do we perceive them as a lower form task i.e. a job for the ‘web monkey’

What’s really interesting here is the cue and the reward relationship and what makes people ‘care’. A brilliant watch.

dreamlectures:

Beyond the “Like” Button: Digitally Addictive Storytelling and the Brain

Her presentation discusses the brain and its relationship to immediate news. As a writer who crafts the online narrative of a story at the time the idea is conceived, she is uniquely skilled to speak to the power of social media in the news.