Transmedia Festival London 2012

The one and main event that I attended at Transmedia festival last week was Transmedia Storytelling – this can only have been described as disappointing. 

Disappointing that it was a boys orientated club for one, with the opening talk focusing around sex and ongoing laughter due to the data on masturbation and in particular the emphasis on male BMW wankers. But also, on the consistent negative and unethical content that surrounded the dreadful hour that was this event.

Transmedia storytelling became less something cultural and traditional and that we have been doing for thousands of years, but more lets spread horrible stories about perverts, identity thieves, the end of the world and zombies.

These were the stories that they were proud of, that they wished to explain and discuss in an EU funded university building; and why? Well, because these were the most successful of course. These were the ones that they felt proud to represent, proud to discuss and showcase. These were the projects that brought in the money.

This is what our society has apparently become. We are more likely to help fund a kickstarter that will bring our virtual zombie killing world to a reality than an ethical project helping people in Nepal. In fact we are about 90% more likely to do so.

Zombie killing or helping Nepal; living in a fantasy game, or in real life?

Wanting to make a positive impact in the world or a negative one.

Feeling proud of the disturbing stories because they make the money and bring in the data, or the positive ones that are small but good.

How has this happened? What can we do to change this?!

This point was in fact raised at the end of the event, which sparked ‘controversy’ and a very defensive attitude from of course all involved. However, they must have known that what they were presenting was indeed mostly negative - storytelling wise - and was not funny, was not a good story and was in no way something to feel proud of. Business minded or not. People are tired, I am tired, of hearing about all of the negative aspects of our society that are used and abused by the industry to brainwash and shock people into giving a reaction for data to be produced. How much data do we need?

Aren’t we destroying the world and abusing the carbon footprint enough?

Without EVEN more disturbing data about how many BMW drivers masturbate. Do we even care?! Surely there are better examples of socially driven businesses that have had just as much success. And I know that there were better examples of Transmedia storytelling, ones that had a positive impact on society! 

Please can we talk about these next time and from now on. Let's spread positivity not negativity. 

This new media can bring about social change, but change for the better.

This for example is what kicked off the day - something much more light hearted and positive. A play by the popular 'Wikiman' TED animation.