Natural enemies are not what they used to be

Digital Storytelling between narrative and database logic

Abstract

Digital Storytelling, the activity of telling stories based on computational technologies and methodologies, can be considered as a complex phenomenon due to the various elements, both theoretical and pragmatic, that interact with each other in a non-linear way. This paper proposes the combination of narrative logic and database logic as a fundamental characteristic of digital narratives. Originally theorized as opposites by Lev Manovich, the relationship between these two modes of organizing reality can be seen as complementary, especially when examining the evolution of the information ecosystem in recent years. On the basis of these considerations, the final part of the paper examines the status of the videogame as a digital narrative and the actual storytelling capacity of this medium.