Rhizomatic Narratology in 360° Stereoscopic Spherical Cinema

The Thesis undertakes comprehensive and rigorous research at the intersection of narratology and immersive technologies, as it aims to push the boundaries of both fields beyond what has been characterized as “emerging vectors of narratology” to form a specialized sub-field of narrative studies focused on cinematic virtual reality (cVR). The overarching goal is to propose a 3DSC narratological typology that can aid both industry professionals and academics in developing effective stereoscopic immersive narratives not contingent on specific VR technology. Additionally, the typology is tested within rhizomatic space to substantiate whether the communal template of spectatorship provides a foundation upon which social, aesthetic, political, and human interactive models can be built and whether the cVR format itself encapsulates rhizomatic qualities inherent to the medium of 360° film.