stavulike

Stavulike is a term used in contemporary online and artistic communities to describe a collaborative, modular practice that combines narrative-building with shared making. The exact origins of the word are uncertain, but the concept began appearing in online forums and small press projects during the mid-2010s. Stavulike centers on participants contributing interconnected elements—texts, images, objects, or prompts—that can be rearranged or extended by others, creating an emergent whole rather than a single-author work.

Definition and practice: A stavulike project typically starts with a loose theme or set of constraints. Each participant adds a contribution that references or responds to prior elements, while preserving continuity and allowing for divergence. The end results are often multimedia and multi-author, with an emphasis on process and community involvement over a fixed final product.

Workflow and variants: Some practitioners describe a stavulike workflow as a form of “living artifact” that evolves through ongoing input. Variants include collaborative zines, narrative prompt series, and online galleries or installations where displays change over time as new contributions are added.

Reception and use: Stavulike is associated with participatory culture and DIY art scenes, especially on the internet. Supporters highlight inclusivity, transparency of process, and proper attribution of contributors; critics point to potential issues around authorship, version control, and the logistics of distributing evolving works.

See also: Collaborative art, participatory culture, open-source storytelling.