As society becomes more networked and technologically advanced, it forces those in the entertainment industry to market their ideas in a completely revolutionary way. One direct example of this is the event of transmedia storytelling. In an online article written by Henry Jenkins, entitled “Transmedia Storytelling 101,” he defines transmedia storytelling as “a process where integral elements of a fiction get dispersed systematically across multiple delivery channels for the purpose of creating a unified and coordinated entertainment experience,” It is basically the idea of creating your product (TV show, movie, comic book, etc.) and using different forms of media extensions of the product in order to elaborate more on the original story and to create a unique, personal narrative for audience members.
ABC’s Lost was a perfect example of a TV show that used transmedia storytelling to extend the narrative of their show. Lost used many different devices to do this including: mini webisodes, maps, blogs, reference sites, and even a Lost video game. I would like to focus on the Lost: Via Domus video game because it does an excellent job at utilizing the multiform story and also exemplifies the concept of world-building, two key elements in transmedia storytelling.
The idea of the multiform story is telling the same story through perspectives of different characters. Lost, the TV show, has already done an excellent job at fulfilling this by using every episode to focus on a different character and their perspectives. Lost: Via Domus even takes this a step further, creating a new character that never appeared in the series for you to use to interact with the original characters and landscape from Lost. This character even has his own back-story, never mentioned in the show, which fits directly into the plot of the TV series. This idea of creating an extraneous character that an audience member can use to interact with the setting of a TV series is transmedia storytelling exemplified and also plays into the idea of world-building. This is the idea that the series does not rely heavily on specific characters or plots but rather on complex fictional worlds that can revolve around many different plots and characters.
Clearly, transmedia storytelling is something that will become more and more apparent as we delve further into the technological age, and will be a new way for entertainment companies to market their fan base and create landmark series with cult followings. Shows like Lost seem to have perfected the current concept of transmedia storytelling and will set a precedent for future media to follow and embellish the ideas expressed by the creators of Lost through their multiple media platforms.
Works Cited
Jenkins, Henry. “Transmedia Storytelling 101.” Confessions of an AcaFan. March 22nd 2007. Web.<http://henryjenkins.org/2007/03/transmedia_storytelling_101.html>.
“Lost: Via Domus.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 Jan. 2014. Web. 01 Mar. 2014.
http://www.tvkon.com/images/gaming/08/02/Lost-Via-Domus_authenticity_trailer.wmv/00000002.jpg
http://www.gamingsteve.com/images/2008/03/Screenshot_05_large.jpg
Course blog for ASU's Intro to New Media 
The first paragraph does a good job introducing Jenkins and the reading and describing transmedia storytelling for the reader. Focusing on one platform for the transmedia storytelling was a great choice, because it allows you the space to explore your example, define keywords, and organize information with a clear focus. These choices create a post that is easy to read and understand, and could be really useful for a reader who wants to learn more about these topics. The last paragraph gives the reader a good sense of your main points and leaves them with a sense of the direction transmedia storytelling will move and the ways fan culture might change as it does. There was an opportunity to be a bit more specific with the video game and/or to engage more with the readings from class, which might have created an even more sophisticated analysis of the subject. Also, be sure to always use in-text citations, even for paraphrased information from external sources.