Character Network Embedding-based Plot Structure Discovery in Narrative Multimedia

Abstract

This study aims to discover plot structures of narrative multimedia (i.e., creative works that contain stories and are distributed through multimedia). Although a few studies have been conducted to extract subplots from narrative works based on occurrences of characters, the subplots do not always have distinctive compositions of characters. Therefore, we propose a method for discriminating the subplots based on overall social relationships among characters. To understand ways how a story is interwoven with subplots, it is important to describe how story lines in each subplot are developed and how subplots are split and rearranged. As a first step, we propose a measurement for estimating rapidity of story development based on changes in the social relationships among characters. Subsequently, we suggest a model for representing plot structures based on transitions among subplots, the narrative significance of each scene, and the main characters of each subplot. We anticipate that the plot structures can be applied for summarizing narrative multimedia regarding the story.