Sana Akram: Urban Narratives and Interactive Storytelling
This episode of the StageLync Podcast is part of our World Stage Design series. Host Anna Robb interviews Sana Akram, a Pakistani urbanist, media maker, Fulbright alum, and XR creator based in Toronto. Sana shares her journey from architecture to new media, discussing how storytelling, immersive technology, and cultural narratives intersect in her work. Check out this preview, and don’t miss the full episode next week!
How did Sana Akram become interested in new media and new media technology?
Sana Akram’s journey into new media began with her background in architecture. She completed her bachelor’s degree in architecture in Pakistan in 2016 and briefly worked as an architect and freelance architectural photographer. Her interest in urban narratives and the stories of places and spaces led her to pursue a Fulbright scholarship. She earned a Master of Science in Design and Urban Ecologies from Parsons School of Design, where she explored how storytelling could unravel community stories and urban histories. During her studies, she discovered interactive documentaries as a medium to capture layered stories of cities, inspired by the project A Short History of the High Rise by Katerina Cizek. This sparked her passion for using interactive storytelling to reflect urban movements, migrations, and lived experiences.
How does Sana see the relationship between architecture and cultural storytelling?
Sana believes that architecture significantly influences how people experience and interact with their environments. Having lived in both Pakistan and Toronto, she has observed how spaces shape cultural identity and community belonging. Her project, Little Pakistan Future Histories, explores how immigrant spaces transition from being purely physical locations to becoming places imbued with cultural memory and identity. She highlights that architecture not only shapes physical spaces but also affects social dynamics, especially when immigrant communities form cultural enclaves, like Little Pakistan in Brooklyn.
What is the role of interactive documentaries in modern storytelling, according to Sana?
Sana views interactive documentaries as an innovative medium particularly suited for portraying urban narratives. Unlike traditional documentaries, which are usually linear, interactive documentaries offer a layered, immersive experience that mirrors how cities themselves evolve and interact with their inhabitants. Sana explains that these documentaries invite audiences to explore narratives in a non-linear fashion, akin to walking through a neighborhood multiple times and discovering new facets on each visit. They allow viewers to return to the story, delve deeper into specific themes, and build a more personal connection with the subject matter.
What challenges does Sana see in the fast-paced evolution of digital storytelling technologies?
Sana acknowledges that while digital storytelling technologies offer immense creative potential, they also present significant challenges. One major issue is the rapid obsolescence of platforms and formats, as seen when interactive documentaries created with Flash became inaccessible after the technology was deprecated. This issue highlights the ephemerality of digital projects and the difficulty of archiving them for future use. Furthermore, Sana notes that creators must continuously update their work to stay compatible with new technologies, which can disrupt long-term projects and make them harder to maintain.
How does Sana incorporate traditional storytelling elements into her new media projects?
Sana’s current research blends immersive storytelling with traditional South Asian narrative techniques, specifically drawing from the Tilismi Dastan tradition, which dates back to the ninth century. This storytelling approach emphasizes enchantment and multi-layered worlds, where narratives unfold through interactive, performative elements. Sana aims to create immersive experiences that combine actual physical spaces with virtual or augmented elements, allowing audiences to co-create and engage with the story. She strives to maintain the communal aspect of traditional storytelling, even when using VR or mixed reality, by encouraging active participation and shared experiences rather than isolating the audience.
Key Insights from the Podcast
- Architectural Roots in Storytelling
Sana Akram’s journey from architecture to new media highlights how spatial narratives shape cultural identity. Her work explores how urban environments influence storytelling and community belonging. - Interactive Documentaries as Urban Narratives
Sana views interactive documentaries as ideal for capturing the layered, evolving nature of cities. Unlike traditional linear formats, these documentaries offer audiences the freedom to explore stories in a non-linear, immersive way. - Challenges of Digital Storytelling
The rapid evolution of technology poses significant challenges, including maintaining compatibility and archiving digital works. Sana emphasizes the importance of creating resilient, adaptable storytelling methods. - Blending Tradition with Innovation
Drawing from the South Asian Tilismi Dastan tradition, Sana’s work combines immersive storytelling with ancient oral practices, creating experiences that merge physical and virtual worlds. - Maintaining Community in Digital Spaces
Even as technology evolves, Sana stresses the importance of preserving communal and participatory elements in storytelling, ensuring that digital experiences remain shared rather than isolating.
Main Image: Courtesy of Sana Akram
Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.
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