artplot

Artplot is a term used in some branches of art theory and media studies to describe the designed sequence of aesthetic elements that generate the experiential arc of a work. Unlike a traditional narrative plot, an artplot emphasizes how form, rhythm, color, sound, space, and interactivity organize the viewer’s or participant’s experience over time, guiding interpretation through mood and sensation rather than through explicit cause-and-effect storytelling.

In practice, artplots are analyzed in films, installations, video art, and interactive media where the emphasis lies on artistic progression rather than conventional plot events. Critics examine the pacing of visual motifs, the synchronization of audio cues, and the layout of spaces to understand how the sequence of experiences shapes meaning, atmosphere, and engagement.

Origins and usage: the term is not standardized and appears sporadically in criticism and theory. It functions as a heuristic for discussing nonnarrative or hybrid works that blend art objects with viewer interaction. Artplot is related to, but distinct from, concepts such as mise-en-scène, formalism, and experiential design.

See also: plot, narrative, form, mise-en-scène, experiential design, interactive media.