Traditional writing, music and film are restricted in one key aspect: they are completely linear. Even such luminaries as Pulp Fiction that attempt to break the temporal linearity of the medium are restricted by the fact that the finished product, no matter how out of sync the storyline might be, is still told in a strictly linear fashion that will be the same upon each viewing. “Redridinghood” by Donna Leishman (http://collection.eliterature.org/1/works/leishman__redridinghood.html) embraces the capabilities of the digital environment to elevate the narrative beyond this linear restriction, engaging the reader/viewer through interactivity.

While the storyline still has a defined beginning and end, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into how you get from A to B. Most of it is small and subtle, as little as lights in individual rooms in a skyscraper going on and off as the mouse icon hovers over them. However, even something as small as “click to continue” draws the viewer in, makes them complicit in the telling of the story. Even more significant, in the middle of the work there is an opportunity to make a key choice that, while it does not change the inevitable conclusion, does alter the narrative experience in a very meaningful way.

The artwork is simple, having a rough aesthetic at odds with the complex musical track and deep, thoroughly developed themes of the piece. Considering its age (it was created in 2001) it is hard to say whether this is an artifact of intent, artistic ability, or simple limitations of technology at the time. The color scheme is obviously deliberate, using stark contrasts, careful shading, and vivid lines to maximize the impact of the art. The piece also playfully blends traditional comic book esthetics with digital capabilities, using individual panels in comic book fashion while advancing the narrative through motion within the panels, and in some cases giving direction to the viewer through motion within the frame. The reader is “drawn in” in both senses of the word, invited to participate with mouse clicks that change the structure of the world and move the narrative forward or even sideways.

This expansive view of what narrative is changes the relationship between story, storyteller, and listener. It utilizes the capabilities of the digital medium to reach beyond the separation that traditionally exists between the creator, the creation, and the consumer to create a new dynamic, a gestalt work that combines all three.