The Star path

The Paper Theatre: Example Two: Construction in Building Stories

This chapter explores Chris Ware’s Building Stories as an example of self-assembling narrative construction, where the reader (or actor) is responsible for shaping the story’s form and meaning. The book exists as separate physical objects—mirroring Wayfinder’s fragmented storytelling.

PATHS.

Which way will you go?

The Stars /
The Grandmother

Meta-Comic Page

A short film on the freedom of youth and the consequences of that raw energy. Where do your feet lead you, and are you in control of them? 

Dance

The Stars /
The Grandmother

Escaping the Story

A short film on the freedom of youth and the consequences of that raw energy. Where do your feet lead you, and are you in control of them? 

Dance

Footnotes & References

  • Core Theoretical Foundations:

      • Ware, C. (2012). Building Stories (on meaning through assembly).
      • McCloud, S. (1993).
        Understanding Comics (on narrative structure through visual gaps).

      • Manovich, L. (2001). The Language of New Media (on digital storytelling’s structural shifts).

  • Critical Debates and Counterarguments:

    1. Hayles, N. K. (2008). Electronic Literature (arguing ergodic principles only work digitally).

    2. Aarseth, E. (1997). Cybertext (debating whether print texts can be truly ergodic).

    3. Derrida, J. (1967). Of Grammatology (on textual deconstruction without inherent meaning).

  • Empirical Studies & Case Studies:

      • Interactive theatre adapting Building Stories.

      • Nonlinear comic narratives (House of Leaves, Asterios Polyp).

      • Augmented reality literature experiments.