Network Analysis applied to Narrative Ecosystems

Part of our research focuses on new methods of analysis of the products involved in the narrative ecosystem. In particular, we are searching for an analysis form which can be reproducible on various products, and is anchored in a methodology independent from the researcher’s interpretation abilities and particularities.

In accordance with the work of other teams in other Universities, we decided to reflect on the possibilities opened by Network Analysis (see the definition in our Glossary for more information). In particular, we decided that the main measurable unit that could be considered common to any audiovisual form, and could at the same time express a relationship between characters able to define the social network among them, was the time of the onscreen presence shared by the characters expressed in seconds.

A few MA students of the DAR – Department of Media and Performing Arts at the University of Bologna analyzed some seasons of Lost (ABC, 2004-2010), of Once Upon A Time (ABC, 2011-present) and Once Upon A Time in Wonderland (ABC, 2013-2014), and of Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 2005-present), and presented their results in their final dissertations.
We publish here the spreadsheets containing the timing of presence of the main characters in the analyzed episodes (in seconds), a brief description of their work and approach, and the complete thesis. All the material is in Italian.

• Ecosistemi narrativi e Social Network Analysys – Grey’s Anatomy, uno studio di caso
• Grey’s Anatomy Season 3 dataset
• Grey’s Anatomy Season 4 dataset

• Introduzione al lavoro e alcuni risultati
• Broadcast fairy tale. Analisi delle reti sociali nell’ecosistema narrativo Once Upon a Time
• Once Upon A Time In Wonderland S01 dataset
• Once Upon A Time S02 Dataset Once Upon A Time S03 Dataset

• Introduzione al lavoro svolto
• Grafici
• Once_upon_a_Time_tesi_SNA
• Once Upon A Time S01 Dataset
• Once Upon A Time S04 Dataset