redridinghood – post

The affordance of the electronic medium does more than a book could ever do. It provides the reader with not only visual, but audible effects that if used properly, can change the outcome of stories and their meanings all together. This is evident in Leishmans interactive game/book; “redridinghood.” The story  is one that everyone is familiar with, however it makes changes that might not be assumed by the reader. Interestingly enough, redridinghood didnt even have a red hood! (at least, I don’t think she did.) She also carried a punk style impression on her face which is contrary to the traditional red who is cheerful and happy. She is from the city and the wolf is apparently a teenage boy. The game also allows the user to interact with random things, such as the flowers in the field and little windows in the city. (though they dont do much.) This freedom allows the user to live the story a little bit more realistically than reading it.  The author has the power to make any changes she so desires, as can be seen at the end. The teenage boy eats the grandmother, (im pretty sure.) which is much like the original story. However when red comes, she eats the boy and  the grandmother too and then lays in her bed, which is disturbingly strange. All of this was masked by music and slight soundeffects. This gave life to the story in a way that otherwise would have to be imagined by the reader. Overall, the affordances of the electronic medium allow the author to turn any story into their own work.