Degree Work Final Project (Narration)

Flag Books

Based upon Narration, the set of Flag Books applies Todorov’s Narrative Theory of equilibrium to news stories that not only affects those immediately connected to the incident, but also to its surroundings, i.e. the Ripple Effect.

Five unique books yet all link together

Each book narrates an event that has affected the world; metaphors encompass the stories and are conveyed through the book’s properties that match the fragility of the equilibrium and its relation to a stage in the ripple effect. Variables such as different weights, thicknesses, spans, sizes and paper type helped produce a unique outcome for each event, yet all the books tie in together. Mirroring how people learn, the underlying links are revealed once each book is read.

Book 1 – The Ripple Effect

The smallest book in the series, to signify the single drop that starts the ripple.

Book 2 – All Japan

The title is taken from the cohesive phrase the Japanese use to see them through the tough times ahead.

Book 3 – No ifs, no buts…

The way the flags divide symbolises the two-sided nature of politics; the strong promises supported by weak foundations.

Book 4 – Jamahiriyya

Featuring metaphorical references to Gaddafi’s system of governance, it is also the heaviest book representing the overbearing nature of his 40 year reign.

Book 5 – Recovery

Dealing with the subject of recession, this book links all the previous events together, demonstrating the nature of the ripple effect, how each one’s activity has contributed to the recession and how it has affected people in other countries.

Photographs taken by Nauman Abdul-Hafeez.

Below is a stop motion video clip to demonstrate the way each book is read:

An exploration of narration led to this experimental stop motion animation, using scrabble tiles and 300 photos to tell the story of the quick brown fox.