THE NEW NARRATIVE OF THE SHORT STORY: A STUDY OF FICTIONAL RECONSTRUCTION AND CONTEMPORARY CRITICAL DIMENSIONS IN DIGITAL CULTURE

افسانے کا نیا بیانیہ: ڈیجیٹل ثقافت میں افسانوی تشکیلِ نو اور عصری تنقیدی جہات کا جائزہ

Abstract

In the age of digital transformation, the traditional form and function of the Urdu short story are undergoing a significant shift. This research explores how digital culture has impacted the narrative structure, themes, and reader-writer dynamics of modern short stories. By examining the sixfold influence of postmodernism, structuralism, media theory, reader-response criticism, intertextuality, and digital aesthetics, the study investigates the ways in which storytelling is being reshaped in online platforms and interactive mediums. The research delves into the evolution from linear storytelling to fragmented, multimedia-infused narratives that engage a participatory reader. It also highlights how digital short stories often transcend linguistic and formal boundaries, incorporating visual, auditory, and hypertextual elements. Through critical analysis of selected contemporary digital Urdu short stories, the study illustrates how new modes of narrative construction are emerging and what implications they hold for the future of literary theory and practice in the Urdu literary landscape.

Key Words: Digital Culture, Urdu Short Story, Postmodernism, Narrative Shift, Media Theory, Reader Engagement, Fictional Reconstruction