Animated GIF circular Narratives: The visibility of the invisible

Abstract

More agile than a photograph, that captures the moment, and less demanding than a video, which captures a sequence of moments, the animated GIF manages to isolate the moment dynamics and eternalise it through repetition. When limiting the time frame of an instant, the animated GIF shows the invisible and expands its interpretation with each loop. This article explores how GIF narratives intensify attribution of meaning. It is a visual suggestion for the look GIF format gives to the human perception and construction of the real world within the virtual world, exposing its nature as mediator — between content and enjoyer (user) — and its organic affinity with the digital medium. The format was used in the HOMINIDAE project to create mini circular narratives about great apes. The purpose was to experiment and observe its potential for creating visual and empathic bonds between the human user and his biological family in the animal kingdom. The experience is part of the author’s PhD project in Digital Media, entitled: “Animated GIFs in digital journalism: impact on journalism visual narratives and in participatory culture”.