Immersed Narrative & Authorial Practice
This was a combined project for multimedia and illustration that I did when I still studied. The project focus for multimedia was to make an immersed narrative, in which I had to express an untold African story. For illustration, the focus was to portray illustration itself as an authorial practice, in which I could choose any theme, issue, or medium. I made three pieces of concept art and one poster, all digitally to promote a video game. The video game was how I created an immersed narrative. I decided to choose a South African theme to address the needs of both parts of the project.
The untold stories were that of the South African cities of Durban, Cape Town, and Pretoria and how they will look and function in the future as they each try to address a sustainable goal adopted by the general assembly of the United Nations on 25 September 2015. While these cities are initially unsuccessful in their attempts to address these goals, they do succeed by the year 2040. Durban tries to address goal 2, which tackles climate change. Pretoria tries to address goal 6, which tackles food security and sustainable agriculture. Cape Town tries to address goal 2, which tackles the sustainable management of water.
Narratives for Each City
Durban:
In the years between 2020 – 2035, the city of Durban and its inhabitants tried hard to do their part in combating climate change. But by 2035 the whole city became flooded. Durban as we know it was left abandoned, as her people fled to their new homes underneath a glass dome. The dome was constructed beforehand in anticipation of the flood and was able to withstand the devastation. The inhabitants of New Durban (as it was now known) developed new ways of converting ocean water into fresh water. Used or polluted water was filtrated and pumped back into the ocean, to ensure that the process was sustainable. They developed new technologies for using solar panels underwater. In addition to new ways of harnessing the flow of ocean currents for energy, which became more intense after the ice caps melted. Although they were unsuccessful in combating climate change the first time around, by 2040 they did achieve sustainable ways to support themselves. The only thing they still struggled with in the year 2040 was food, which they imported from other cities like Pretoria. To transport food and other necessary goods they constructed a huge “elevator” from the seabed to the surface of the ocean.
In the years between 2020 – 2035, the city of Durban and its inhabitants tried hard to do their part in combating climate change. But by 2035 the whole city became flooded. Durban as we know it was left abandoned, as her people fled to their new homes underneath a glass dome. The dome was constructed beforehand in anticipation of the flood and was able to withstand the devastation. The inhabitants of New Durban (as it was now known) developed new ways of converting ocean water into fresh water. Used or polluted water was filtrated and pumped back into the ocean, to ensure that the process was sustainable. They developed new technologies for using solar panels underwater. In addition to new ways of harnessing the flow of ocean currents for energy, which became more intense after the ice caps melted. Although they were unsuccessful in combating climate change the first time around, by 2040 they did achieve sustainable ways to support themselves. The only thing they still struggled with in the year 2040 was food, which they imported from other cities like Pretoria. To transport food and other necessary goods they constructed a huge “elevator” from the seabed to the surface of the ocean.
Cape Town:
The story of Cape Town is similar to that of Durban. Capetonians also tried to combat the threats that endangered them. But they also failed in their initial attempts to develop sustainable ways to utilize their water supplies. As a consequence, by 2036 they depleted all their reachable water supplies. People moved away because of the desert that started to form caused by the ongoing droughts and lack of water. All of this was made worse by the effects of climate change. To survive the devastation of the huge dust storms that started to appear. The inhabitants moved from the old Cape Town into buildings embedded in Table Mountain.
The story of Cape Town is similar to that of Durban. Capetonians also tried to combat the threats that endangered them. But they also failed in their initial attempts to develop sustainable ways to utilize their water supplies. As a consequence, by 2036 they depleted all their reachable water supplies. People moved away because of the desert that started to form caused by the ongoing droughts and lack of water. All of this was made worse by the effects of climate change. To survive the devastation of the huge dust storms that started to appear. The inhabitants moved from the old Cape Town into buildings embedded in Table Mountain.
Pretoria:
Due to refugees that fled from other cities like Durban and Cape Town, Pretoria became overpopulated very fast. Adding pressure to an already rapidly urbanizing city and by 2038 they started to run out of food. The city and its inhabitants did develop sustainable food production and agriculture methods. But they were wholly unprepared for the massive influx of people that surged to their city. Starvation led to violence and riots that quickly spread throughout the city that left large parts of it destroyed and abandoned. Pretoria in response developed new sustainable ways of food production where the new buildings themselves became the fertile ground for producing food. These buildings had to be built relatively quickly and by 2040, the city had a sustainable food production system and people started to move back to the city.
Due to refugees that fled from other cities like Durban and Cape Town, Pretoria became overpopulated very fast. Adding pressure to an already rapidly urbanizing city and by 2038 they started to run out of food. The city and its inhabitants did develop sustainable food production and agriculture methods. But they were wholly unprepared for the massive influx of people that surged to their city. Starvation led to violence and riots that quickly spread throughout the city that left large parts of it destroyed and abandoned. Pretoria in response developed new sustainable ways of food production where the new buildings themselves became the fertile ground for producing food. These buildings had to be built relatively quickly and by 2040, the city had a sustainable food production system and people started to move back to the city.
Concept Art
Pretoria:
Cape Town:
Durban:
Game Promotional Poster
Game Character
Run Cycle
Backgrounds for the Game
The Game
*My friend who is a game developer did the coding.
Thank You for Watching!
