Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Digital Production Arts
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Joseph Kider
Committee Member
Prof. Rodney De Costa
Committee Member
Dr. Eric Patterson
Abstract
This thesis explores how truth and dramatization intersect in digital storytelling by comparing realistic and stylized simulations of the Honey Creek bridge collapse within the context of the Kate Shelley animated short. At the core of storytelling lies a tension between factual accuracy and dramatic stylization. We investigate that tension by examining how narrative truth is conveyed, distorted, or enhanced through visual dramatization by focusing on the psychology of audience perception and the motivations behind creative embellishment. The practical contribution of this research is the development of two distinct digital scene setups depicting the same Honey Creek bridge collapse event. The first, named the Chronicle, is grounded in physical accuracy, and the second, named the Legend, is deliberately stylized for heightened dramatic impact. Built using Maya for modeling and Houdini for simulation, these scenes serve as comparative case studies for evaluating how visual design choices influence the reception of narrative truth in film and animation. Based on these scene setups, camera focal length and environment scale have the largest impact on perceived clarity and scale, with wide lenses generally improving spatial readability while telephoto views can reduce measurement cues. Overall, the Chronicle version supports record-like comprehension through stable scale and restrained effects, while the Legend version supports narrative emphasis through controlled exaggeration that strengthens emotional impact.
Recommended Citation
Gaddy, Alison R., "Between Chronicle and Legend: A Two-Scene Environment and Visual Effects Examination of Physical Accuracy and Emotional Exaggeration on the Honey Creek Bridge Collapse" (2026). All Theses. 4717.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4717
The final edit of the Legend sequence.
Chronicle_FINAL.mp4 (50376 kB)
The final edit of the Chronicle sequence.
legend_contactSheet.mp4 (52648 kB)
A contact sheet of all 12 Legend shot variations.
chronicle_contactSheet.mp4 (51480 kB)
A contact sheet of all 12 Chronicle shot variations.
Included in
Cognition and Perception Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Cognitive Science Commons, Film Production Commons, Fine Arts Commons, Interactive Arts Commons, Other Arts and Humanities Commons, Other Film and Media Studies Commons, Other Philosophy Commons, Other Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons, Other Physics Commons, Visual Studies Commons