Dr. Frankenstein is known for defying the odds to father what we know as Frankenstein’s Monster. Now, you have a chance to make a monstrous creation of your own– that is, if you dare face the consequences!
New College of Florida is celebrating the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s classic novel “Frankenstein” with “Frankenfest,” a series of artistic and creative events. The latest is “Write-a-thon: Game-Jam on Frankenstein,” a day-long workshop in writing video game narratives.
The event will take place Saturday, March 31, and from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM in the College Hall Music Room at New College’s Bayfront Campus. It is open to the community and there is no cost or pre-registration required.
New College is teaming with Ringling College of Art and Design to create this thrilling event that will let the community appreciate the renowned Frankenstein novel in a new way. “This is the perfect foundation for developing your own interactive storyline about Victor Frankenstein and his creature,” said Dr. Miriam Wallace, professor of English at New College, and organizer of the Frankenfest series.
“I’m really excited to see what interactive storylines people come up with around Victor Frankenstein and his creature—is your Victor a hero or a madman? Is your creature a monster of evil or a sympathetic and unloved humanoid—even an alien, or the resurrected victim of injustice? Come make a monster with us!”
Rick Dakan, professor of creative writing at Ringling, will teach participants how to write a captivating computer game storyline, using the free Twine platform for text-based games, that will catch gamers’ attention and keep them interested.
The novel’s actual well-known storyline is full of tragic deaths and psychological horror, which Wallace says brings up several questions of morality that have long captivated readers as they are forced to contemplate human nature — questions like “Is Dr. Frankenstein responsible for the creature that he made and in turn, responsible for the deaths surrounding him?” Workshop attendees have a chance to bring these long-debated philosophical questions to life with the Frankenfest Write-a-thon.
Literature lovers, video game fanatics or even both will love the opportunity to write their own storylines and get feedback from an expert in writing video game narratives. Participants also will get recognition and feedback from other workshop members: During the last hour of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to share their game plot and narrative with the group.
Participants are encouraged to form teams and work as a group, and should bring a laptop computer.
Everyone is invited to participate and unleash their inner monsters as they enjoy a fun-filled day full of creativity, celebrating the novel that opened the gateways for the thrilling and beloved horror genre.
“Write-a-thon: Game-Jam on Frankenstein”
Rick Dakan, professor, Ringling College of Art and Design, and Miriam Wallace, professor of English, New College of Florida.
Saturday, March 31, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
New College of Florida’s College Hall, Music Room
College Drive (at 5800 Bay Shore Road), Sarasota
Admission is free and no advance registration is required. Participants are encouraged to bring a group, and one member should have a laptop computer.