ABSTRACT
Invented cultures are occasionally developed beyond the immediate needs of the story being told, in ancillary materials, or merchandising, especially if there is interest from an audience. An author may also develop more of an invented culture than what is released, to make what does appears in the story seem more consistent and realistic, even when that backstory is not entirely used within the story. The amount of development given to invented cultures has grown over time and has changed along with the venues used by imaginary worlds. In many stories set in imaginary worlds, a clash between cultures provides much of the narrative conflict, resulting in everything from humorous misunderstandings to full-scale wars. Invented cultures that appear in transmedial worlds take on an audiovisual form and materiality, which in turn also makes them more like real-world cultures. They also provide a tool with which to examine existing cultures by comparison and to explore cultural possibilities.
