To Read Across Media With the Senses up front. An Intermedial Analysis of the Transmedial Story NORD (North)

NORD (North) is an example of a transmedial story which was published within two years as an illustrated novel, an audio book and a digital story. In this paper I will focus on the digital version and examine how the creation of meaning emerges in the interplay between text, picture, sound, and interaction. Drawing on Elleström’s theory of intermediality combined with concepts relating to literary materiality and videogames, the analysis will focus on four intermedial and cross-aesthetic analytical levels: material, sensory, spatio-temporal and semiotic. There will be a special focus on the material and sensory creation of meaning in relation to the way these levels contribute to the multisensory reading experience and their potential significance for the reader’s attachment to the literary text (Felski 2020). The born digital story NORD by Hübbe, Meisler and Olsen (2018) is a coming-of-age story in the fantasy genre, as well as a contribution to the eco-critical tradition. This will be exemplified in the paper although the main focus will be on the way NORD is positioned intermedially in between forms of expression, content and media, thereby creating hooks - with a term from Rita Felski - to the reader.