An exploration of the limitations of transmedia storytelling: Focusing on the entertainment and education sectors

Abstract

Transmedia storytelling is a concept emerging in the field of communication and media. The concept was first popularized by Jenkins. He defined it as a representation of a process in which integral elements of given fiction are disseminated systematically through multiple media platforms. Even though many researchers have studied the concept, not enough studies have been done with respect to its limitations, especially in the context of the entertainment and education sectors. Therefore, this research study was meant to explore the limitations of transmedia storytelling as it relates to entertainment and education. Hence, the researcher sought to achieve two objectives: to explore the limitations of transmedia storytelling in the entertainment industry and to explore the limitations of transmedia storytelling in the education system. Qualitative research methods were preferred for this study. An exploratory research design was employed, with interpretivism adopted as the research paradigm. A purposive sampling technique was used in selecting 13 people to participate in this study. The methods of data collection included semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGD). The data that were collected were analyzed using a thematic approach. With regard to the entertainment industry, this study showed that the limitations included difficulties in collaboration between different media platforms, failure to take into account consumers who were not interested in more than one media platform as a source of various story elements, and inconsistencies regarding cocreation. In relation to education, the limitations included the fact that transmedia storytelling ignored the issue of cognitive maturity, ignored the credibility issues regarding various media platforms being sources of accurate academic knowledge, the slow pace at which transmedia projects are developed, and the disadvantages to learners who are neither able to access appropriate technologies nor able to use them.

Tell a Tail: Leveraging XR for a Transmedia on Animal Welfare

“…When considering children as the consumers, creators should take into account their information-processing capabilities, memory capacity and their attention span [30]. Hence, the TS approach raises concerns on how it can be applied to audiences in late childhood and early adolescence, arguing that it requires children to have the cognitive maturity with advanced media literacy skills needed to make connections between narratives from the different media platforms to provide a fulfilling experience of the story world [30,40].…”

“…Baring in mind the limitations of TS regarding audiences' media-literacy skills. [30,40], we splintered the Tell a Tail transmedia world into two sub-projects targeted at two different but close age groups. Each sub-project is self-contained, employing design strategies appropriate to the target audience while maintaining an overall consistent aesthetic.…”