The Initiation

The Initiation

Yale is famous for its secret societies, yet most people don't get to experience them.

So I created a free site-specific story journey that allowed anyone to join in on the gothic fun.

Yale is famous for its secret societies, yet most people don't get to experience them.

So I created a free site-specific story journey that allowed anyone to join in on the gothic fun.

Client

Yale Senior Thesis

Yale Senior Thesis

Year

2021

2021

Category

Site-Specific Theater

Site-Specific Theater

Role

Writer, Researcher

Writer, Researcher

Client

Yale Senior Thesis

Year

2021

Category

Site-Specific Theater

Role

Writer, Researcher

ThE IDEA

For my senior thesis at Yale, I created a cult.

Technically, I used a custom site-specific narrative scavenger hunt as a creative research methodology to write a fifty-page paper on how political ideology influences methods of immersion in location-based entertainment experiences. But cult sounds snappier.

Technically, I used a custom site-specific narrative scavenger hunt as a creative research methodology to write a fifty-page paper on how political ideology influences methods of immersion in location-based entertainment experiences. But cult sounds snappier.

The EXECUTION

The EXECUTION

Secret Society initiation rituals. Sans goat sacrifices.

Initiates traveled around Yale's campus and New Haven to reveal story beats and join a secret, underground order. This ancient society has pre-American origins. Their signs and symbol linger throughout the city.



Initiates traveled around Yale's campus and New Haven to reveal story beats and join a secret, underground order. This ancient society has pre-American origins. Their signs and symbol linger throughout the city.



Results

Results

"Wait, is this real?"

Using existing Yale's infrastructure, history, and mythological connection to secret societies, the story blended fact and fiction.


Using existing Yale's infrastructure, history, and mythological connection to secret societies, the story blended fact and fiction.


Credits

Credits

Director of Undergraduate Studies: Paul Grimstad
Advisor: Professor Toni Dorfman
Second Reader: Lisa Messeri


__________________


Services: Creative Writing, Academic Writing, Research

Contact me to inquire about the full thesis


Director of Undergraduate Studies: Paul Grimstad
Advisor: Professor Toni Dorfman
Second Reader: Lisa Messeri


__________________


Services: Creative Writing, Academic Writing, Research

Contact me to inquire about the full thesis


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