Storytelling Mechanism 2.0: Another Perspective on Digital Literature

This paper offers a discussion on how narrative texts work mechanically, based on the storytelling mechanism theory constructed by Yan Zheng (2016) and cybertext theory introduced by Espen Aarseth (1997). It agrees with Zheng’s findings that there are no intrinsic differences between digital literature and literature presented on other platforms in terms of their mechanical textual behaviours. However, this paper also points out the limitations of Zheng’s theory in its previous stage. To fix the problem, this paper differentiates the storytelling mechanism theory from its theoretical origin, cybertext theory, avoids the problems found in both theories, and further develops Zheng’s typology of narrative texts to include 35 logical questions that can provide more meticulous views to enquire about a narrative text. Moreover, this paper constructs a map that can be used to demonstrate visually how a narrative text is produced with collaborative efforts from the three elements in the storytelling mechanism.