In the 21st century, digital media has developed, bringing changes to how people consume pop culture. Under these circumstances, transmedia adaptations of classical novels have appeared in a variety of new forms. Such a trend provides classical novels...
In the 21st century, digital media has developed, bringing changes to how people consume pop culture. Under these circumstances, transmedia adaptations of classical novels have appeared in a variety of new forms. Such a trend provides classical novels with a value as cultural content. In an attempt to suggest how to use such content effectively and what its potential value would be, this study focuses on the transmedia content 〈Gwangmunjajeon〉, the title of a short story from 《Banggyeonggakwejeon》, a collection of literary works by Park Jiwon (also known as Yeonam). The content is a combination of two Korean short stories: 〈Gwangmunjajeon〉 (about the main character Gwangmun’s youth) and 〈Seogwangmunjeonhu〉 (about the same character’s later days). Building on this case, the study explores how to utilize transmedia content. To begin with, it offers a theoretical review of cultural prototypes, transemdia content/storytelling and the digital era’s cultural content industry. Through this review, the study analyzes the case of utilizing content derived from the two aforementioned short stories and their storytelling elements. Finally, this analysis leads to clarifying how transmedia content is used.
A cultural prototype plays an important role as an essential element of the content 〈Gwangmunjajeon〉. To have a better understanding of the digital era and changes in the cultural content industry, the study also delves into convergence and multiscreen, which constitute changes in the environment of digital technologies and media. For this theoretical basis, the study analyzes the case and characteristics of the content derived from 〈Gwangmunjajeon〉 and 〈Seogwangmunjeonhu〉, based on the understanding of the concept and use of transmedia content. It also reviews actual cases of using such content: historical novel 『Such a Noble Entertainment』 and web pansori 〈Dalmoon, a Goodest Person〉. In addition, it analyzes storytelling elements, focusing on the narratives and characteristics of the two Korean short stories. While the analysis of the narratives is helpful for understanding the structure and plot of the stories while that of the characters consists in reviewing the traits of the characters and how they interact. Furthermore, the study observes how the content from the two short stories is used as transmedia.
Transmedia content tells different stories to create a unified world. Its major elements include a main story, a background story, a subplot, the structure of characters, games for the audience and a world view. New technologies and media could enable more diverse forms of convergence, making us expect the development of technologies and services that would attract more users. Such development of transmedia content is also likely to expand in the global market. In this regard, the results of this study could contribute to shedding light on today’s value of literary classics by exploring and reinterpreting Korean classical novels from a new perspective.
The two short stories have a value that transcends time because they contain the value of literary classics, Koreans’ world view and their traditional lifestyle. Each of the stories has its own storytelling elements and the stories’ narratives and characters have potential to be used in different forms of transmedia. In particular, both stories have unique cultural prototypes. As a result, the stories are actively used in different genres such as a historical novel and web pansori. Moreover, each of the two stories has the major elements of transmedia storytelling: main story, background story, subplot and structure of characters. This forms a basis for creating content with a variety of storytelling elements. The two stories thus have a value and potential to form a world of storytelling that could expand by means of different media and platforms.
Focusing on 〈Gwangmunjajeon〉 derived from Korean short stories, the study explores how transmedia content is used. The results of the study could help content providers apply the principles of transmedia content. In this way, 〈Gwangmunjajeon〉 and other Korean literary classics could successfully meet the public through different platforms and media. Such content is meaningful in that it contributes to understanding the development of the cultural content industry and digital era.