ABOUT
IML-477 is an Immersive Docu-Narrative class at the University of Southern California exploring the incorporation of new technologies in addressing relevant issues and provoking audience engagement and action through interactive, immersive platforms. Students work collaboratively to design a group project installation, from topic to conceptualization to final works.
With the whirlwind of changes sweeping the world due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, the class had to change too; so rapidly that it left most of us confused, afraid and feeling unmoored in a way that we had never experienced.
We don’t know what the future holds for any of us. While each of our circumstances are different, one thing we do know is that we all are collectively experiencing a massive shift in our daily lives because of this virus. It’s also changing who we are, how we see the world and what we want to see in the world.
For the Spring 2020 semester, IML 477 moved to a virtual exhibition space to explore different conceptions of normalcy in unprecedented times. Has our definition of normal completely shifted? What aspects of this new normal have we already adapted to, and what will we carry into the future? We have gathered an archive of what normalcy currently means, and have created an interactive space where viewers can decide their own definition of ‘normal.’
This website houses both real video testimony and an interactive “game” of coronavirus narratives with characters from different walks of life. Here, you can learn about a diversity of perspectives during social distancing. You will also get to navigate the quarantine from the point of view of someone else.
Please explore this site, which is intended to both connect us now, and serve as an archive of experiences in this moment. We also hope you’ll contribute your own personal testimony and can learn from the timelines of the characters that you choose to play as you move through our COVID-19 narratives.
Perhaps, through these immersive experiences, each of us can find a moment to hold onto. Something to keep us afloat in the present, as well as help us when we finally get to navigate our uncertain futures.
For now, know that none of us are truly alone. We are here. You are here. And we are all in this together.
Stay safe.
Yours truly,
IML-477 Spring 2020 Team
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Meet the Team
Chandler France
I’m an incoming senior majoring in journalism and double minoring in documentary and web technologies and applications. I’m originally from Laguna Hills, California but currently live in the Phoenix-area of Arizona. For this project, I helped with the website development, specifically working on design aspects of the site.
Bailey Lawrence
I’m an incoming senior majoring in Media Arts + Practice within the USC School of Cinematic Arts and minoring in Advertising. I’m from Chicago, Illinois, but plan to stay in Los Angeles after graduation. For this project, I helped with descriptions, the map, and video assets.
Emily Billow
I’m an incoming senior majoring in Media Arts + Practice at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. I am from Park City, Utah but I'm not planning on leaving Los Angeles anytime soon. For this project I developed the nurse narrative in the game and helped with other design, description, and video assets.
Sydney Laws
I’m a rising senior majoring in Film and Television Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. I am from Atlanta, Georgia and thus prefer to be referred to as an ATLien. For this project, I helped with crafting narrative for the interactive game.
Bansini Doshi
I’m a graduating senior majoring in Business Administration, with a minor in Future Cinema and a specialization in Digital Entrepreneurship. I’ve grown up between the USA and India, and currently reside in San Diego. For this project, I developed the interactive game and helped with other assets.
Sofia James
I’m an incoming senior majoring in political science with a double minor in documentary film and Spanish. I’m from Seattle, WA, but grew up in Maputo, Mozambique and Berkeley, CA. For this project, I helped with video editing and acquisition.
Mark Garry
I am a third year USC student. I’m pursuing a bachelor of science degree in neuroscience with a minor in documentary. I am native to Illinois, but have been living in Santa Monica since 2016. In this project I worked on narrative development in the game section, primarily the “student”.
Patricia Pan
I’m a graduating senior on the pre-med track pursuing a major in biology and a minor in digital studies. I’m originally from the San Francisco area. I designed the characters and some other elements of the interactive game.
Adeline Wang
I am a rising senior at USC double majoring in Cinema & Media Studies and Linguistics. I’m from Los Angeles, and don’t have plans to leave anytime soon. For this project, I helped with UX website development as well as creating graphic design elements for page as a whole.
Lucia Fox-Shapiro
I am a junior Cinema and Media Studies major with a minor in Media and Social Change. I am from Washington DC and plan to return upon graduation. I worked on character and narrative development for the game, mainly the nurse and student characters.
Radhika Agrawal
I’m a rising senior studying Computer Engineering and Computer Science with a minor in Future Cinema. I’m from Northern Virginia and plan to return to Los Angeles as soon as it’s safe to do so! I worked primarily on the website development of this project and helped with collecting testimonies and background research.
Saniya Pole
I’m a graduating senior majoring in Media Arts + Practice. Born and raised on Earth and located in Los Angeles, CA. I love creating all kinds of digital content, and on this project I was lucky enough to have worked on the design and developement processes for this website, as well as the interactive game.
Lewis Forde
I am a graduating senior with a major in Media Arts + practice. I am originally from London, England, but I am currently residing in Atlanta GA, with plans to return to Los Angeles as soon as possible. For this project I worked with the design team to give the website a retro-style look. I was responsible for creating the map-related images.