Assignment: Find a non-fiction multimedia/interactive project (from the web or CD/DVD) and write one-page report addressing functionality, narrative elements and design principles. Post the links/project information and the report on your blog.

                                Non-Fiction Multimedia/interactive Project Analysis

I chose to go with http://www.thanatorama.com/ because I found the topic to be incredibly engaging, and I studied a smidgen of French in high school/college. Anyways, I found the educational documentary approach towards death to be boldly honest and objective of what really goes on after we die, and it’s entertaining by way of a wry sense of humor. For example, in the Funeral parlor chapter (http://www.thanatorama.com/us/#/funeral_parlor/ ) towards the end, they say that the embalmer, David, never says, “See you later”.  The interactive elements add more to the curiosity as the viewer is able to personalize their own burial as they are prompted questions with a surreal orb to keep with the spiritual motif.

Functionality:

                Considering the amount of complex media with the interactivity, the website performs really well. Not sure if it was my personal computer, but I did notice some glitches along the way. For some reason, the Pallbearer chapter (http://www.thanatorama.com/us/#/pallbearers/ ) gave me a lot of trouble. First, it seems like there were two audio tracks going at once, as though the website was insisting I go to the coffin factory while I heard the audio and saw the subtitles for the Pallbearers, proving to be very distracting (I tried it multiple times at separate occasions). In the same chapter, I also noticed that the subtitles just went away halfway through or the bottom subtitle line was cut off, while there was still a voice over. It wouldn’t have bothered me so much, but I don’t understand French in this particular documentary context. Finally, the other chapter I ran into some glitches with was the Coffin Factory Chapter (http://www.thanatorama.com/us/#/coffin_factory/ ) which offers the viewer the chance select the different areas of the assembly line, and they explain in further detail the role that particular area fulfills in the process. It’s a fantastic idea, but the pacing between the audio and video would get misconstrued, then it would zip through 5 photos really fast. Thus, despite the minor technical complaints I listed above are trumped by the complexity, creativity, design, and information that make http://www.thanatorama.com a unique experience.

Narrative elements:

                The narrative was incredibly helpful with the subtitles (when they worked), as it took such an impersonal approach to a very personal experience. The information presented was done in such a demanding, yet nonchalant tone of the speaker, it seemed to provoke the audience to explore further through the chapters. It was however entertaining to hear how each little story goes into an indirect history surrounding each of the tours….like the location of the Coffin Factory in Jussey, France (what are the chances that a person would have a connection with Jussey if not for their coffin?), as well as the busy schedule of an embalmer considering the statistics that were presented (700 embalmers across France, and how demanding of a profession it is). It really played into the tone that all of the actors in your funeral are just that- actors who play a role, and will play another significant role for another deceased person within hours.

Design Principles:

I enjoyed the design of the chapter orbs….it seemed to be like a constellation in the Universe which lends more to the sense of mystery of what happens when we die.  The Coffin Factory’s map was a little confusing at first, but once I realized that the assembly-line areas with a border were individual stories, it made it much easier. My only criticism of the design was that sometimes, the questions being prompted were the same font color as the background image, so it was difficult to tell what was being asked.

In Conclusion, the website was educational, thematic throughout, and engaging despite the uncomfortable taboo of a topic. The functionality really stayed true to form and performed really well despite the glitches I came upon when considering the larger, complex picture. Next, the narrative was incredibly straight-forward with its facts, and kept it entertaining and light with the nonchalant tone.  Then, the Design of the website was very helpful, and it kept with the surreal after-life mystery for which is incredibly open-ended. Therefore, the website was incredibly entertaining while fulfilling its web-documentary genre responsibilities in a creatively interactive way.