Broken Oars University: Module One: Infinite Stories - Narrative in the Age of Constant Content Creation

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'Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends, we're so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside ... '

 

A new branch of the Broken Oars tree, Broken Oars University was dreamed up over the summer as an occasional series for your two stalwarts to explore some things other than rowing ...

 

... 'What?' I hear you cry. 'There are no such other things!

 

Well, ordinarily we'd agree with you, but the Northern One is working through some projects at the moment that mean that the subject matter of this one is pretty close to hand and heart ... and the best way to learn anything is to try and teach it, because then you're forced to break it all down.

 

The Broken Oars University tag was inspired by so many of our friends on Twitter et al heading off to University - which is an expansive experience, not just in terms of the teaching and the course, but also the new perspectives and understandings it can bring.

 

We (he, Northern One) hopes that the Broken Oars University will be a similar experience, giving fresh perspectives on some things that perhaps you already know, but which might also be new to some. An occasional series, we'll introduce things we're working on or thinking about in our professional and other lives that might entertain, inform, tickle or make you throw things at the screen.

 

Sound like it might be fun ...

 

It might be.

 

So, to kick it off, Module One sees the Northern One exploring how stories work in an age where narratives no long end but instead roll into the next content output.

 

In his usual fashion, he will self-deprecate his expertise in this area to the point where you'll think 'who the hell is this person', but essentially this opening episodes touches on the following points:

 

 - Expertise: what is it, why is it more defined by knowing what you don't know rather than what you do.

 

- Polymaths: what are they, why he isn't one, and neither is Stephen Fry.

 

- Narrative: why stories have a beginning, middle and end, and why it doesn't matter what order these elements come in.

 

- Why this isn't a discussion of the pathetic fallacy of individuals and their output.

 

- What Netflix buying up Roald Dahl's Intellectual Property means and why they've done it.

 

- The 'Exploring the x Universe' idea: why it's a nonsense and a fallacy.

 

- How the reality that stories have a beginning, middle and end is important for structure, motive drive, engagement, immersion and imagination.

 

- What happens if you disregard this and start endlessly colouring in the map.

 

- Tricks, licks and conceits - how and why they don't work if the narrative's motive force are lost, or the internal logic and consistency are lost.

 

- Why platforms need content, but content doesn't need platforms.

 

- Why we now live in the age of the never-ending story as a reaction to market mechanics. We're looking at you, MC universe / DC universe / Tolkien Universe / never-ending everything universe.

 

- How a never-ending story leads to audience disengagement, a fall off in quality, and diminishing returns in all senses.

 

- Why stories that have a beginning, middle and end (in whatever order) are more emotionally and intellectually satisfying and more culturally representative - and why, as I work throug