Korsakow
Encyclopedia
The Korsakow System is open source
software designed to allow users to generate database cinema
. Created in 2000 by Berlin
-based artist, Florian Thalhofer, Korsakow allows users with or without any programming expertise to create and interact
with non-linear or database video narratives referred to as Korsakow-Films. The software can be used to produce documentary
, experimental and fictional narrative
works and has been integrated in to live performance
and installation
pieces. Korsakow is free for small projects and educational use. Potential users with production budgets over $3,000 (€2,000) are asked to contact the makers of the software first.
consumption to accompany his Master's
thesis. During his research, Thalhofer learned about an effect of extreme alcoholism
known as "Korsakoff's Syndrome
," characterized by short-term memory loss and a compulsion to tell stories. Thalhofer borrowed the name for his thesis and first Korsakow-film, "Korsakov Syndrom".
Most versions of the software have been released as free software
. However, versions 1 through 3 were created on Macromedia Director and required Shockwave Player to be installed in the browser to be viewed online. Many features would not work when viewed through the web and Shockwave. Also, due to the platform that they were created on, these versions were not open-source.
In addition to addressing many of the problems with version 3, version 5.0 was recreated from scratch in javascript
as open source software. The new version of the application can export as a .swf file which requires flash player to view, a more common browser extension
. Another change offered in the new version is the ability to redesign the interface for the final piece. While, version 3 only permitted a single main screen with three preview screens located below it, the new version allows the film maker to modify the layout throughout the piece.
There was no version 4.0, as the developers believed that the jump from version 3 to the current version was so substantial that they skipped 4.0 altogether as an inside joke.
builder. Instead, the intention of the software is to create an interface for navigating databases of clips based on dynamic relationships between clips, rather than on constrained, linear paths. In order to achieve this, each K-film is composed of multiple SNUs or smallest narrative units. These are usually short video clips ranging from 20 seconds to a few minutes in duration and are the building blocks of each k-film.
Users of the Korsakow software "SNUify" their media by adding rules guiding the relationship between each SNU. Each SNU can be assigned "in" and "out" tag
s. Whenever a clip begins, the database will be queried for other SNUs whose "in" tags match the "out" tags of the current video. Any matches will be displayed as related options for viewing. Some tags can also be set to only appear at a specific time of the current SNU.
As part of a non-linear narrative, each SNU may be reused within the narrative. SNUs may be assigned a number of "lives" or times it is allowed to reappear within the narrative. Should the "in" tags match the query, the SNU may reappear as an option until it has been played a number of times equal to its number of lives.
s can be accepted by the software:
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
software designed to allow users to generate database cinema
Database cinema
One of the principal features defining traditional cinema is a fixed and linear narrative structure. In Database Cinema however, the story develops by selecting scenes from a given collection...
. Created in 2000 by Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
-based artist, Florian Thalhofer, Korsakow allows users with or without any programming expertise to create and interact
Interactivity
In the fields of information science, communication, and industrial design, there is debate over the meaning of interactivity. In the "contingency view" of interactivity, there are three levels:...
with non-linear or database video narratives referred to as Korsakow-Films. The software can be used to produce documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
, experimental and fictional narrative
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
works and has been integrated in to live performance
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
and installation
Installation art
Installation art describes an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that are often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space. Generally, the term is applied to interior spaces, whereas exterior interventions are often called Land art; however, the boundaries between...
pieces. Korsakow is free for small projects and educational use. Potential users with production budgets over $3,000 (€2,000) are asked to contact the makers of the software first.
Development and Early Versions
In the late 1990s, Florian Thalhofer began developing a software program to produce a documentary about alcoholAlcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
consumption to accompany his Master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
thesis. During his research, Thalhofer learned about an effect of extreme alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
known as "Korsakoff's Syndrome
Korsakoff's syndrome
Korsakoff's syndrome is a neurological disorder caused by the lack of thiamine in the brain. Its onset is linked to chronic alcohol abuse and/or severe malnutrition...
," characterized by short-term memory loss and a compulsion to tell stories. Thalhofer borrowed the name for his thesis and first Korsakow-film, "Korsakov Syndrom".
Most versions of the software have been released as free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
. However, versions 1 through 3 were created on Macromedia Director and required Shockwave Player to be installed in the browser to be viewed online. Many features would not work when viewed through the web and Shockwave. Also, due to the platform that they were created on, these versions were not open-source.
Version 5.0
Released in July 2009, the newest version of the Korsakow System involved a complete overhaul of the previous versions. The upgrade was produced thanks to a small grant from the Quebec Government's "Fonds de recherche sur la société et la culture" (FQRSC) and the assistance of the Concordia Interactive Narrative Experimentation Research Group (CINER-G). Thalhofer remained the creative lead during the project. Matt Soar directed the project and designed the new logo. The coding was done by David Reisch and Stuart Thiel. The new version was released July 2009.In addition to addressing many of the problems with version 3, version 5.0 was recreated from scratch in javascript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
as open source software. The new version of the application can export as a .swf file which requires flash player to view, a more common browser extension
Browser extension
A browser extension is a computer program that extends the functionality of a web browser in some way. Depending on the browser and the version, the term may be distinct from similar terms such as plug-in or add-on. Mozilla Firefox was designed with the idea of being a small and simple web browser,...
. Another change offered in the new version is the ability to redesign the interface for the final piece. While, version 3 only permitted a single main screen with three preview screens located below it, the new version allows the film maker to modify the layout throughout the piece.
There was no version 4.0, as the developers believed that the jump from version 3 to the current version was so substantial that they skipped 4.0 altogether as an inside joke.
SNUs
Though it may be used as such, the Korsakow System was not intended as a choose your own adventureChoose Your Own Adventure
Choose Your Own Adventure is a series of children's gamebooks where each story is written from a second-person point of view, with the reader assuming the role of the protagonist and making choices that determine the main character's actions and the plot's outcome. The series was based on a...
builder. Instead, the intention of the software is to create an interface for navigating databases of clips based on dynamic relationships between clips, rather than on constrained, linear paths. In order to achieve this, each K-film is composed of multiple SNUs or smallest narrative units. These are usually short video clips ranging from 20 seconds to a few minutes in duration and are the building blocks of each k-film.
Users of the Korsakow software "SNUify" their media by adding rules guiding the relationship between each SNU. Each SNU can be assigned "in" and "out" tag
Tag (metadata)
In online computer systems terminology, a tag is a non-hierarchical keyword or term assigned to a piece of information . This kind of metadata helps describe an item and allows it to be found again by browsing or searching...
s. Whenever a clip begins, the database will be queried for other SNUs whose "in" tags match the "out" tags of the current video. Any matches will be displayed as related options for viewing. Some tags can also be set to only appear at a specific time of the current SNU.
As part of a non-linear narrative, each SNU may be reused within the narrative. SNUs may be assigned a number of "lives" or times it is allowed to reappear within the narrative. Should the "in" tags match the query, the SNU may reappear as an option until it has been played a number of times equal to its number of lives.
Compatibility
The following file formatFile format
A file format is a particular way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file.Since a disk drive, or indeed any computer storage, can store only bits, the computer must have some way of converting information to 0s and 1s and vice-versa. There are different kinds of formats for...
s can be accepted by the software:
- Video files: .mov (codecCodecA codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. The word codec is a portmanteau of "compressor-decompressor" or, more commonly, "coder-decoder"...
: H.264) - Previews: .jpg, .gif, .png, .mov (H.264)
- Startscreen: .jpg, .png, .gif
- Audio files: .wav, .mp3
- Subtitles: .srt
Interface
Films output on Korsakow version 3 or earlier could only be viewed in a single generic interface. This layout involved a single primary frame, in which the selected clips would play, and up to three preview frames of other related clips. While this remained the default layout in version 5.0, filmmakers now have the option modifying the interface to suit their need. The interface may be static or it can be different for each SNU.External links
- Official Website
- Gallery of example works
- CINER-G Website
- Interview with Florian Thalhofer by Matt Soar
- Thalhofer's K-film Planet Galata (2010, ARTE)
- Thalhofer's website. Includes links to many of his K-films.
- Almost Architecture (2007), a K-film on highrise signs in Montreal by Matt Soar.
- Article on Soar, Thalhofer, and CINER-G.
- Chapter by Adrian Miles (2008), titled Programmatic Statements for a Facetted Videography comparing Korsakow with Videodefunct. In Lovinck, G. & Niederer, S. (Eds.) Video Vortex Reader: Responses to YouTube. Amsterdam: Institute of Network Cultures, pp. 223-230.