Date of Award
Spring 6-4-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master in Interior Architecture
Department
Interior Architecture
First Advisor
Eduardo Benamor Duarte
Second Advisor
Markus Berger
Third Advisor
Yaminay Chaudhri
Abstract
The exhibition of sequential art is becoming increasingly popular. The subjects of these shows vary from fantasy, horror to science fiction depending on the style of authors. Compared with other 2d images, sequential art requires more narrative framing. Typical exhibitions show sequential art like regular images, however narrative is the essence of sequential art. This thesis will find a way to exhibit sequential art forms in a way that respects that they are based in storytelling. I will develop an immersive experience of sequential art. Immersion is also a narrative-based experience, if we combine the immersive experience with the sequential art. Each will enhance the other.
It used to be that immersive experiences made some reference to the architecture that housed them. Nowadays if you have a topic and a portable digital tool, the experience can take place even in blank boxes. To me, this is a loss. I hope to design a prototype of an exploratory and immersive visit in an adaptive reuse space, always with the goal of enhancing the narrative quality of sequential art. My intent is to bring people into the story and make them feel the rhythm of the stories with the help of spatial qualities.
The site will be the first floor of the CIT building of the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. Providence is the birthplace of the Cthulhu Mythos, which is popular in manga or cartoon works. CIT is a school building, in front of Johnson and Wales University, which will attract many students who are interested in manga. This sequential art exhibition will be centered on “Hellstar Remina”, a horror manga by Junji Ito, considering the psychological benefits of the horror experience. Through tilted floors, lighting, compression of space, eerie sounds and direct interaction with architectural elements that bring the visitor into close contact with the sequential art of “Hellstar Remina,” a feeling of unease and terror is created. In this way, the intent of the sequential art is achieved.
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Rui, "The Cthulhu Journey : storytelling through an architectural immersive experience" (2022). Masters Theses. 980.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/980
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