Digital Landscapes: How the use of transmedia strategies can enrich the interpretive and educative experience of cultural and natural landscapes
Masters thesis, 2012
Masters thesis, 2012
The purpose of this study, which began by asking: What does it mean to be a tree in Los Angeles?, was to examine the value of utilizing digital media and transmedia strategies for enriching the urban interpretive user experience of both cultural and natural landscapes and, therefore, increase the scope of environmental educational outlets and tools. Using the case of relevant emerging projects, I explored how these projects were conceived and formulated, how they had been executed thus far, and how they strategized to have future and continued relevance. Out of this exploration, I proposed a series of transmedia strategy methods and principles that could inform a more effective and thoughtful application of this media. Finally, I examined how local government, grassroots organizations, and academic institutions in Los Angeles can coordinate their efforts throughdigital platforms to improve the legibility of natural and cultural landscapesand, consequently, improve the stewardship of the latter by utilizing new technologies and applying the proposed transmedia strategy methods.
Supplementing the thesis were different media explorations that specifically sought to blend the question of What does it mean to be a tree in Los Angeles? and the use of different digital media and transmedia strategies. Included in this exploration was the use of Scalar, in which I experimented with how the thesis itself could be presented and explored, as found here.
A copy of the final thesis is available by request.
Thesis committee: Amy Murphy (Chair), Assistant Dean, USC School of Architecture; Rachel Berney, Interim Director of Landscape Architecture Department, USC School of Architecture; and Robert Harris, Professor Emeritus, USC School of Architecture.
Supplementing the thesis were different media explorations that specifically sought to blend the question of What does it mean to be a tree in Los Angeles? and the use of different digital media and transmedia strategies. Included in this exploration was the use of Scalar, in which I experimented with how the thesis itself could be presented and explored, as found here.
A copy of the final thesis is available by request.
Thesis committee: Amy Murphy (Chair), Assistant Dean, USC School of Architecture; Rachel Berney, Interim Director of Landscape Architecture Department, USC School of Architecture; and Robert Harris, Professor Emeritus, USC School of Architecture.
Initial topic explorations included proposing a series of related questions and identifying relevant key terms
The image was prompted by asking how we interact and engage nature andits resources in the 21st century and how these processes can reveal the many layers and meanings of a landscape.
Proposed transmedia strategy methods and principles. More on these can be found here.
Using Popcorn JS / HTML 5, I explored how the platform and interface of a Los Angeles-centric program may be structured.
