Digital Seriality and Narrative Branching: Season One, the Podcast Serial

Hardey, Mariann; James, Simon J.

Abstract

This paper explores the characteristics of storytelling in a digital medium through Season One of the podcast Serial. We also analyse how Serial’s digital audience engages with and reacts to the narrative, and the ways in which such an audience influences the success and the reach of the show. We draw attention to how the cross-media format of Serial enables listeners to participate in the narrative, sharing their interpretations and reactions. We argue that storytelling to a digitally networked audience relies on both some very old and some new aesthetic narrative forms.

Citation

Hardey, M., & James, S. J. (2022). Digital Seriality and Narrative Branching: Season One, the Podcast Serial. Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies, 19(1), 74-90. https://doi.org/10.1080/14791420.2022.2029513

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 12, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Feb 17, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: May 13, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 23, 2022
• Journal: Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies
• Print ISSN: 1479-1420
• Electronic ISSN: 1479-4233
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 74-90
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14791420.2022.2029513
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1242707