Tag Archives: digital story

Redridinghood Analysis

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“Redridinghood” of Donna Leishman is the electronic literature base on children store. It is about a little girl, she wears red sweater and brings some food for her grandmother who live in the forest. Unfortunately, there is a wolf that follows her all the way to her grandma’s house to kill her grandma and her for its meal. For Donna Leishman’s work, it contains audio, touch, visual and communication. Continuing the story, the viewers have to click on the chosen items like doors or windows; also, we can pick two options that were created by the end of the story. They are letting her sleep or waking her up and we pick either one of them; it will lead us to different scenarios. That way, it makes people get more involved to the story by their physically activities with new technology environment. Besides, the soundtrack and the music describe very well the story’s situation which is dangerous and high risky. The video has the viewer’s interaction; it keeps the viewers awake.

“Electronic circuitry profoundly involves men with one another” and “We can no longer build serially, block-by-block, step-by-step, because instant communication insures that all factors of the environment and of experience coexist in a state of active interplay”(Page 63). In my opinion, Donna Leishman’s work is great example by turning original story to electronic literature; plus, Donna brings all the viewers together by video’s step-by-step structure. That way, the views will find more interesting in this video than read straight content as the story in children book.

Oh what Big Bytes You Have

The artist for “Redridinghood” incorporated many forms of digital media to tell a classic tale that everyone is familiar with. The twist being set in a more modern time with her going from a city to the country and the ‘wolf’ being an imposing boy on a scooter makes it more relatable to the digital generations. Because of the level of technology assimilated into our society the artist takes advantage of the natural instinct of clicking on objects without prompts to see what happens. That was my first reaction, once the story started I found myself clicking on all the windows just to see what happens and make sure I did not miss out on anything. By letting the reader of the story pick what happens when she falls asleep keeps the reader engaged and interested to see what happens next, and yes I did click on all the flowers.

With all these different mediums being used the message of the artist is expressed very well. In the book “The Medium is the Massage” McLuhan states

“Information pours upon us, instantaneously and continuously. As soon as information is acquired, it is very rapidly replaced by still newer information”

With the interaction, music and having to figure out what was needed to keep the story going Leishman did exactly this by providing information instantaneously and continuously very rapidly by not letting any gaps happen in her rendition of the story. McLuhan sums this up when he states “all factors of the environment and of experience co-exist in a state of active interplay”

Audra Mann | @WSUVcollegeMom