Digital Storytelling in Contemporary Cultural Institutions - Case Studies of MAXXI and Fondazione Prada

Abstract

Storytelling is considered one of the oldest human practices and the most efficient way of communicating. It enhances the way people interact, learn and understand the world around them. However, with the rise of technology and new media forms of expression, the world itself has changed. Digital tools and techniques substantially transformed all forms of communication, blending the roles of producers and consumers and expanding the environment of storytelling. Museums and cultural institutions have only recently started to recognize the importance and potential of creating their own digital identity, challenging and transforming the experience of storytelling. Due to the fast pace of changes influenced by digitalism, it is a necessity for cultural institutions to stay updated and respond to the audience's expectations in order to preserve relevant status in contemporary society. Therefore, the thesis research aims to discover the characteristics of storytelling in digital society using examples from contemporary museum practice. Comparing two study cases, the exhibitions inspired by the artistic and intellectual work of Pier Paolo Pasolini and conducted in Italy in the period between 2020 and 2023, the paper will identify in what way the implementation of digital tools transforms storytelling into an experience, both inside and outside the physical space, and how it influences the perception of the audience. Moreover, the paper will shed light on the curation process, highlighting the possible benefits and limitations of digital storytelling in museum practice.