tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648851613509486338.post5055653230468768889..comments2023-07-27T13:50:05.697+01:00Comments on Dr Keith M Johnston: Afterthought: trailers and transmediaKeith M. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09486936538577641893noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648851613509486338.post-25329962632922481212010-05-20T18:29:27.399+01:002010-05-20T18:29:27.399+01:00Steve, I think you're right that there are pro...Steve, I think you're right that there are problems with seeing merchandise (the Happy Meal, or a T-shirt) as part of a coherent narrative experience. Although fan use of such merchandise (using toys to produce fan videos etc. that are set in the same fictional universe) could be construed as part of a wider definition of narrative...<br /><br />I don't think I see advertising as a separate media (because technically advertising works across different media) and, while the T2 example does fit into the kind of prologues I was talking about, I still think that it is a piece of film that was designed to promote another film. So, again, no real cross-media narrative, simply a narrative that is extended across the same media.<br /><br />As for what counts as 'canon', that's a whole other debate!Keith M. Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09486936538577641893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6648851613509486338.post-169762964276057702010-05-20T17:36:45.235+01:002010-05-20T17:36:45.235+01:00What counts as narrative content? Does seeing the ...What counts as narrative content? Does seeing the army of terminators being built in the trailer for T2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us3ggae8-Ec&feature=related) fit in?<br /><br />Personally, I think that advertising (wherever it is displayed) and the main feature count as separate media. Whether it's a TV spot or a Happy Meal box, it's still advertising.<br /><br />Mind you, then you start to get into issues of canon. I'm sure that the information displayed on a burger carton is not intended to be considered part of the narrative, at least by the writer and director. So where do you draw the line? How do you know what is to be taken seriously and what is just supplementary fluff?Steve Pagetnoreply@blogger.com