Comments on: Analysis of Murder at Harvard

By: tgoodwin

tgoodwin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:17:03 +0000

While I do agree that transmedia is a terrifc means to provide more access to further engage the reader, or audience, I think this particular example highlights the problems that can exist as well. I think that the self-aggrandizing is the reason this is a problematic example. As much as I would like to play nice in the sandbox here, I’m not willing to let Schama off the hook.

As much as I think the book and film show how to present history in fun an interesting ways that create publciity I think there is a thin margin of error in being successful. To me, Schama is the reason the film fails to make this transmedia experiment a somewhat frustrating experience.

By: Chris King

Chris King — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:47:18 +0000

“When history is told in nontraditional formats, it can provide more tools for the viewer.” I think you hit the nail square on the head with this comment, Carrie. Along the lines of Jenkins’ discussion of the transmedia nature of The Matrix, the PBS film and the supporting website extends the story and the readers’ involvement with it by offering more details than are possible with one media channel. By expanding the readers’ ability to engage with the story and the evidence, Schama and the producers of the film let each medium do what it does best — the book gives the narrative, the film explains the decisions made by the historian, and the website provides the details and sources. If we can get past Schama’s self-aggrandizing, I think this is a good example of transmedia in action that (as you so eloquently put it) provides more tools for the viewer/reader!

By: mbergman

mbergman — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:08:43 +0000

Great post Carrie. I completely agree with you about the movie being more about Schama’s process than the actual event. I’ve never really been a fan of the detective genre largely because determining the guilt or innocence of a character depends not on the detective work of the reader but rather the information provided by the author. Perhaps because of that, I found the story of Schama’s creative process interesting. It added another layer to the murder/mystery aspect of the plot.

I also thought you were right on about the move being clearer about which elements were historic fact and which were conjecture.