What Are Narrative Generation Phenomena?

First, this chapter introduces an idea that deals with narrative phenomena as the integration between the individual (narrative generation and reception system) and social levels (narrative production and consumption system); this idea is called the “multiple narrative structures model.” This chapter describes the future image of a human-machine symbiosis system that includes narrators and receivers as artificial intelligence. Furthermore, based on the concept of “visible narratives” and “invisible narratives,” the author analyzes the narrative components or elements to consider methods for synthesizing the analyzed elements. This idea of the analysis and synthesis of various narrative elements will be systematized in the “integrated narrative generation system.”

Narratology and Post-Narratology

This chapter describes the narratology or post-narratology that synthesizes and develops various narrative-related studies, including previous narrative research, narrative and narrative generation studies in the broad sense, and, of course, previous narratology and literary theories. This chapter studies various narrative studies in the broad sense and then studies and surveys narrative and narrative generation studies in a more narrow sense. Further, dependent on these backgrounds, the author surveys the fields of narratology and literary theories. On the other hand, as a cultural approach, this chapter refers especially to Japan's literature. In summary, dependent on the above topics, this chapter presents the concept of post-narratology, the expanded literary theory in the author's previous term.

Areas of Narratives or Narrative Genres

This chapter presents a tentative and large categorized system of narrative genres (i.e., a “narrative genre system”). It is related to the division of the objects or materials of research and analysis in the synthetic narrative generation study based on computational methods. Although, throughout the book, the author consciously uses Japanese narratives that include both universal narrative characteristics and local or cultural features, this narrative genre system is also constructed using Japanese narrative genres as concrete materials. As an overview, the narrative genre system includes five narrative categories: the narrative genre as a work in the narrow sense, the narrative genre as a work in the broad sense, the narrative genre as social and emergent phenomena, the narrative genres invading the real phenomena, the narrative genres as human physiological and psychological phenomena. In each explanation, after the corresponding narrative, genre category is defined and explained, and a concrete genre under the large genre category is treated for discussing the characteristics.

Theoretical or Philosophical Considerations for an Integrated Narrative Generation Approach

Although narrative philosophy or thought is the fundamental concept supporting this study, a point different from the previous studies relating to narrative philosophy is that this study aims to make products in the technological field of narrative generation systems instead of philosophy or thought about narrative itself. From the viewpoint of philosophy or thought, the narrative generation systems are applications. In contrast, from the goal of narrative generation systems, philosophy or thought corresponds to a kind of strategic framework for establishing the vision, strategy, and direction. In particular, the first philosophical concept is “multiple narrative structures.” Next, the author addresses the following three concepts: “circular narrative control,” “fluidity and fixation,” and “norm and deviation.” They are not concepts that are respectively individual. These philosophical concepts build the dynamic characteristics of narrative generation through their interrelationships.