Narration is an important cultural phenomenon. The premise of this thesis stipulates that our built world grew in tandem with the act of narrating. One can often see the continuous interplay between how we talk about narratives and space. Narration, as an act, is often compared to the act of crafting, building and creating. While the built world inspires narratives, narratives also create worlds. One of the key foundations of this proposed thesis lies in literature. In this research project’s context, the literature will be referenced and discussed as the imaginary, which borrows from Jean-Paul Sartre’s The Imaginary. Within the larger scope of the imaginary, this thesis starts with the myth of Troy and follows its retelling and reimagining. Existing as a mythological, historical and archaeological city, there is a collective imaginary of what constitutes the city of Troy. With each recitation, Troy evolves. However, it develops from the central worldbuilding established in Homer’s Iliad, as a template, one that is defined by the immediate and spatial proximity of either the narrator or spectator. The imaginary world uses the template to piece together the dual understanding of the plot: of a narrative and spatial limits of the object of narration. This dual understanding of a boundary is where this thesis will build its framework to analyse the reinstitution of Troy in narrative, material artefact and built form.

Devanshi is an educator, editor, researcher and designer. She has taught contextual studies, design theory and research since 2018. She was the Asst. Editor at STIRworld and has written for ICON (UK), Art India, On Stage and Architectural Digest. She co-authored the N.A.S.I.K. Project, was the Set Designer for The Floating Market, Curatorial Associate at the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, and has participated in workshops and festivals globally. She also co-curated an exhibition titled Anecdotes of Origin in Venice.