3/16/25, 10:40 PM
Franchise narrative analysis (1000-1500 words, due Friday, March 7) – 25%
Franchise narrative analysis (1000-1500 words, due
Friday, March 7) – 25%
Start Assignment
Due Mar 7 by 11:59p.m.
Points 25
Submitting a file upload
Choose a narrative media text that is an official part of a franchise you’re familiar with, such as a film,
a season of a TV/streaming series, a comic, a novel, or a video game. Analyze its story and how it is
told closely to determine what strategy or approach to franchise narrative is being employed and how
this example relates to the rest of the franchise.
Your case study must be one of the following:
an extension or spin-off of an existing franchise into a different medium (e.g. a Star Wars comic)
a reboot or relaunch of an existing franchise with a new version (e.g. One Piece on Netflix)
a revival or continuation of an existing franchise after a period of absence (e.g. 28 Years Later)
Your analysis should be grounded in concepts we’ve discussed in class, in particular the weeks on
seriality, transmedia storytelling, and media mix, and should directly reference the course readings to
demonstrate your understanding. Additional sources outside of the course readings are not required
but may be helpful as you develop your ideas.
This should be an academic essay with a clear thesis about how narrative works in this franchise, not
a qualitative review or opinion piece. Make sure you identify specific details from your example to
support your analysis, and address both its narrative and formal aspects (i.e. how the story is
structured and how it looks, sounds, and feels like, not just what it’s about).
For example, I might write about Superman Returns (2006) and argue that it positions itself as a
nostalgic modern-day revival of Richard Donner’s Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980) and
strategically distances itself from the less popular 1983 and 1987 films. To support this argument, I
would have to provide detailed evidence of the specific ways that Superman Returns tried to do this
in terms of story, characters, casting and performance, costume and set design, cinematography and
editing, sound and music, etc.
https://q.utoronto.ca/courses/378871/assignments/1454784
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3/16/25, 10:40 PM
Franchise narrative analysis (1000-1500 words, due Friday, March 7) – 25%
You do not need to use all the different theories and concepts of franchise narrative we've
learned about (seriality, transmedia storytelling, media mix, reboots, revivals, etc.). In fact, some of
these concepts are incompatible with one another, and they don't apply to every franchise text! The
goal of the assignment is to explain what narrative strategy is being used in your example, so you
should only use the concepts and theories that make sense for your example.
Cite your sources properly and include a Works Cited list. Submit as a PDF (double-spaced, 12pt
Times New Roman, 2.54cm margins) via Quercus.
https://q.utoronto.ca/courses/378871/assignments/1454784
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