Rationale for Project B

I decided to create a geo-narrative for this project involving a fictional story about a Private Investigator. The story begins as a typical P.I. story but I have created the map so it links to other maps so the reader can choose what the protagonist does. Therefore there are four possible endings to the story depending on the reader's decision. I wanted to create a more involved story for the reader so it would be more entertaining to read. The reader has more control over the story and has the ability to go back and see what other endings were possible. I believe this makes my story more enjoyable and involving. The concept for the story came to me when I read another geo-narrative on-line and I wondered how to create multiple maps which link together.

I began my project on Google Maps which was practical and helpful about how to create maps. I found Google Maps quite easy to use once I figured out how to add pictures and connect other maps. Project A really held me in good stead when doing this assignment. I found I needed to use HTML and network my map as much as I networked my webpage. Having experience with my webpage and learning from my mistakes, I was much more comfortable adding videos, images, article and maps to my project. I had some trouble at first adding my images to bits of my story. I tried adding the URL link to the placemark on the map but the image never appeared. On Flickr, there was a tab for images marked "Share This" which was fantastic help so I copied the HTML link and posted that in the placemark tab and the picture appeared. I didn't have to worry about size/parameters of the picture because Flickr automatically does it for you. This is similar on YouTube when attaching video links.

My main purpose for the geo-narrative was not only telling a compelling story to interst the reader but to also let them navigate around the internet. I linked websites to each of my placemarks which are relevant to the content of the story shown in the window. I added blog posts, video trailers, real estate websites, on-line games and news articles to the windows to connect the internet with my story. Although it is a fictional story I wanted to add an element of reality by linking it to the rest of the network. I believe that every website/geo-narrative/blogpost should contain other elements of the internet to not only support their idea/opinion but to introduce people to similar ideas and help connect people with more information.

I believe my geo-narrative is different because it shows everything that can be shown on a map. I have stayed within the confines of Australia but I wanted the narrative to relate to Canberrans. For example: an inside joke about Queanbeyan being a hotspot for tourists. However, I have made the narrative relevant for Australians by showing Australian websites, news videos and Australian movie trailers. Australia is a large part of my cultural context and understanding and I believe writing to that context make the story more believable and relevant to people of my culture.