Transmedia Storytelling Is the Way to Go

Henry Jenkins believes that transmedia storytelling is becoming more important as a strategy for fans and amateurs to create their own stories. I agree with Jenkins’ argument that new media like the web has made it possible for amateur storytellers to add on to their existing story and for fans to join in and create their own stories because it is so simple to do. It is really easy for people to create an extension of a great story with their new ideas and distribute it online for everyone to see.

I also like how he pointed out that with transmedia storytelling, we individually and collectively put together a story and each person arrives at a slightly different vision of a story. It is like a big puzzle that you have to find all the pieces of. This allows people to share, discuss and debate stories with other fans. I personally think it's fun to put the pieces of the puzzle together by gathering information from multiple different sources. But I think it can be fun to an extent. I don’t want to have to go digging for every backstory from every show or movie. If there is a movie or show I really like, then it is fun. But if I don't care about it that much then I won’t spend time searching for more information about it.

Some of my favorite examples of transmedia storytelling are Star Wars and Indiana Jones, which are two of the most successful transmedia franchises. Indiana Jones started as a film but went to television in a series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. In this, they were able to extend the storytelling and develop the characters more by his backstory and how he took shape.

Star Wars started as films but then expanded into many different media including novels, games, television, and fan-made videos. All of these expanded on the story and included background information about characters and plots that there is not enough time to get into in the original films. The games also allowed people to play and experience what life was like for a Jedi trainee or bounty hunter. More recently, Star Wars lands have been built in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks that will let fans visit the galaxy and be immersed in it.