Taking this course has been a truly eye-opening and rewarding experience! Over the past semester, this course has completely reshaped the way I think about storytelling, authorship, and the role of technology in our lives. Before this course, I considered narratives largely in their traditional forms books, articles, maybe blogs. Now, I understand narrative as something fluid, dynamic, and multimodal: something that takes form in AI-generated texts, selfies, TikToks, and disappearing Instagram Stories.
One of the most eye-opening concepts for me was transliteracy from Module 1 being able to read, write, and engage across different platforms and formats. Sue Thomas’ work emphasized that communication now requires more than fluency in one medium; it demands fluidity across many. This changed the way I see digital literacy not just as a technical skill, but as a cultural one.
The readings that most impacted me were Tiidenberg’s (2017) on aging femininities and Liu et al. (2018) on selfies as social movements. These challenged my initial assumptions about selfies as superficial. Instead, I now see them as deeply political acts of identity performance, especially when posted by marginalized users who resist dominant norms through self-representation.
Another turning point was the AI narratives module. Wu et al. (2021) and Benson (2022) raised fascinating questions about co-authorship, creativity, and the future of fiction. I had never considered how machine learning models could generate speculative fiction or summarize complex books, and this prompted me to reflect on how AI might augment not replace human storytelling.
Throughout the course, I also developed a more critical lens for how power circulates through digital platforms. From BookTok’s influence on publishing trends to the algorithmic visibility of selfies, I’ve come to appreciate how platforms shape not only who gets seen, but how stories are told, framed, and rewarded.
Looking ahead, I’ll be much more intentional in how I engage with digital media. I’ll continue exploring diverse narratives especially from underrepresented creators and pay attention to the ethical implications of my participation. I also now see digital tools not just as passive platforms, but as active agents that co-shape content and meaning.
This course hasn’t just introduced me to new technologies, it’s transformed how I see narrative itself: as a collaborative, cultural, and ever-evolving process shaped by tools, platforms, and people.
Thank you, Dr. Jessica!
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