Under the dual driving forces of the rapid development of information technology and the continuous advancement of cultural dissemination demands, museums—important mediators of socio-cultural memory—are undergoing profound transformations in both exhibition methods and spatial narratives. Traditional static display approaches can no longer meet the pluralistic and interactive experience needs of contemporary audiences. new media exhibitions, through enhanced content accessibility and bidirectional narrative linkage, elevate cultural information transmission from a mere visual delivery to a dynamic, co-creative process grounded in audience participation. Within interactions between visitors and exhibition spaces, audiences experience behavioral engagement, cognitive feedback, and emotional resonance, thus achieving a transformation of identity from passive information recipients to active cultural creators. Driven by data connectivity and interactive experiences, this emerging exhibition model promotes the multi-layered evolution of the museum display process—from “information” to “knowledge” to “wisdom.” It not only expands the dimensions of exhibition narratives but also provides a more open and inclusive spatial platform for cultural communication and sharing.
The development of Embodied Cognition theory offers a new perspective for reconstructing museum spatial narratives. Embodied Cognition emphasizes that cognitive activities are dynamically generated through the interactions between the body and the environment. This concept provides an important theoretical foundation for understanding the perceptual, behavioral, and cognitive mechanisms of audiences within new media exhibition spaces in museums. Accordingly, integrating Embodied Cognition theory with the characteristics of new media exhibition spaces in museums to construct a narrativity path centered on “audience experience” constitutes the core task of this study.
The objectives of this study are as follows.
First, by analyzing theoretical research on Embodied Cognition, museum new media exhibitions, and spatial narratives, this study establishes the correlation between Embodied Cognition theory and the narrative structure of new media exhibition spaces in museums.
Second, through the analysis of new media exhibition spaces and narrative elements in museums, it identifies the narrative characteristics of new media exhibition spaces in museums based on Embodied Cognition theory and constructs a corresponding narrative framework.
Third, applying this analytical framework to ten representative comprehensive museums in China, the study evaluates the narrative features of each institution.
Finally, based on the empirical analysis results, it proposes optimization strategies in aspects such as narrative design, spatial experience, audience interaction, and technological integration. These strategies aim to strengthen the systematic coherence of exhibition content, enhance audience experience, and promote innovative approaches to cultural dissemination.
The structure and methodology of this study are as follows.
Chapter 1 begins by situating the research within the context of cultural dissemination in the digital era and the ongoing transformation of museum exhibitions. It discusses the theoretical and practical significance of the study and clarifies its primary objective: to construct a systematic framework for the narrative characteristics of new media exhibition spaces in museums based on Embodied Cognition theory, and to verify its applicability and effectiveness through empirical case studies.
Chapter 2 establishes the theoretical foundation of the research through comprehensive theoretical analysis. It first traces the conceptual evolution, key elements, and spatial relevance of Embodied Cognition. It then examines the developmental context of narrative theory, discusses the transformation of spatial narratives in museum exhibitions, and analyzes the intrinsic logical relationship between space and narrative. Building on this foundation, the study explores the differences and points of convergence between traditional and new media museum exhibitions, emphasizing the applied value of science and technology within museum exhibition spaces. Furthermore, it proposes a theoretical framework that interlinks Embodied Cognition, spatial narrativity, and new media exhibition, thereby offering an integrated conceptual model for the subsequent stages of analysis.
Chapter 3 conducts a systematic analysis of new media exhibition spaces in museums based on four core dimensions—space, technology, interaction, and environment. Through this analytical structure, twelve spatial characteristic indicators are derived. From the perspective of narrative composition, the study examines the diversification of exhibition content, the design of temporal–spatial structures, and the mechanisms of narrative symbol transformation. In addition, it investigates the interactional relationships between exhibits and audiences in new media exhibition spaces, explores the practical pathways of “co-narration,” and proposes behavioral matching principles according to different audience types. Through this process, the study constructs a comprehensive structural model of narrativity composition within new media exhibition spaces in museums.
Chapter 4 identifies the narrative characteristics and organizational structure of new media exhibition spaces in museums based on Embodied Cognition theory. To achieve this, the study categorizes Embodied Cognition into three hierarchical levels—multi-sensory coordination, interactive behavior, and situated spatiality—organized respectively into micro, meso, and macro structural layers. These three layers are then connected to the twelve spatial characteristics and narrative elements of museum new media exhibitions, resulting in the extraction of twelve composite narrative attributes. Based on these findings, the study builds a narrative framework for new media exhibition spaces in museums grounded in Embodied Cognition theory and proposes methodological guidelines and classification objectives for the system. The final framework consists of five hierarchical levels, four major categories, and twelve narrative characteristics, forming a complete structural system of new media exhibition narratives.
Chapter 5 applies the previously derived characteristics and framework to empirical case studies. The research targets ten representative comprehensive museums in China: the Palace Museum in Beijing, Nanjing Museum, Zhejiang Museum, Henan Museum, Guangzhou Museum, Shanghai Museum, Hubei Museum, Chengdu Museum, Gansu Museum, and Hunan Museum. Using the established evaluation index system and questionnaire surveys, an empirical analysis is conducted. Data analysis methods include frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, and reliability and validity verification. By applying the twelve narrative characteristics to actual museum environments, the study quantifies their performance, generates evaluative results, and proposes improvement strategies based on the analysis outcomes.
Chapter 6 synthesizes and summarizes the overall research findings. This study constructs a theoretical framework integrating space–body–technology, and develops the narrative characteristics and structural system of new media exhibition spaces in museums based on Embodied Cognition theory. Through empirical case studies, it validates both the applicability and the effectiveness of the proposed framework. Theoretically, the study extends the applicability of Embodied Cognition theory within the field of museum spatial narrative research. Practically, it provides a systematic methodology and evaluation criteria for new media exhibition design and innovation in cultural dissemination.
This research offers a comprehensive theoretical and methodological contribution to the interdisciplinary integration of cognitive science, spatial design, and new media museology. By embedding Embodied Cognition within the study of museum new media exhibition narratives, it not only enriches academic discourse but also provides practical guidance for designing more interactive, embodied, and meaningful cultural experiences in the new media age.
The conclusions of this study are as follows.
First, through a review of previous studies and theoretical analysis, the concepts and interrelationships among Embodied Cognition, spatial narrativity, and museum new media exhibition were examined, leading to the formulation of an integrated theoretical framework of space–body–technology. Grounded in phenomenology, Embodied Cognition theory emphasizes the interactive mechanism among body, environment, and cognition. It proposes twelve core characteristics that describe the dynamic mechanisms of human cognitive activity: bodily participation, cognitive differentiation, environmental extension, behavioral exploration, bodily dependence on the environment, environmental constraints on the body, cognitive creation of environmental meaning, environmental stabilization of cognition, bodily substitution for cognition, cognitive transformation of the body, the compositional unity of body–cognition–environment, and the cyclical feedback among body–action–environment. These characteristics not only reveal the essential mechanism of interaction between body and environment in human cognition but also provide a theoretical foundation for understanding visitor perception and behavioral patterns within new media exhibition spaces. Narrative theory, which has evolved from text-based narration to spatial and media-based narration, has expanded its interpretive scope. Spatial narrative theory, in particular, imbues museum exhibition spaces with symbolism and semiotic meaning, transforming them from static sites of display into dynamic mediators that convey narrative information and actively engage visitor cognition. As technological innovation and the diversification of audience expectations have reshaped exhibition forms, the museum has evolved from a model of “authoritative exhibition” toward “digital symbiosis.” Technology now functions in four primary modes within exhibitions—informational visualization, interactive participation, immersive experience, and game-based exploration. The intervention of digital media technologies has not only increased the diversity of exhibition formats and contents but also restructured the expressive methods and interactive relationships between exhibition space, content, and audience. Through the integration of Embodied Cognition characteristics and spatial narrative elements, this study proposed a theoretical framework that centers on bodily perception, employs digital technology as its operational basis, and adopts spatial narrative as its expressive pathway. This framework, grounded in the cyclic mechanism of “perception–action–cognition” from Embodied Cognition, organically integrates the symbolization and contextuality of space with audience participation and experiential engagement, thereby constructing a dynamic narrative system aimed at optimizing visitor experience.
Second, the study constructed a systematic structure of elements for new media exhibition spaces in museums and narratives. Based on the four-dimensional framework of space–technology–interaction–environment, twelve spatial characteristic indicators were derived: directionality, fluency, adaptability, diversity, intuitiveness, transcendence, logicality, continuity, flexibility, variability, associativity, and symbolism. Dynamic adaptability of spatial functions, point–plane–volume collaboration in technological media, closed-loop feedback in interaction mechanisms, and multisensory immersion within environmental contexts collectively enable deep integration among spatial elements, narrative content, and visitor behavior. In the analysis of narrative composition, the study identified three core elements—exhibition codes, visual setting, and spatiotemporal dimension—and clarified the transformation of new media exhibitions from static information delivery to multilayered and polysemic narrative structures. Through mechanisms of semiotic transformation and spatial narrative reconstruction, it demonstrated the narrative evolution from the display of objects to the generation of cultural meaning. The analysis of exhibit–audience relationships emphasized bidirectional collaboration between “objects and humans,” highlighting three narrative paths: co-creation of multiple identities, integration of visual perspective and emotional engagement, and convergence of technology and interaction. Furthermore, by clarifying the matching principles between visitor types and narrative pathways, the study constructed a dynamic narrative field driven by the triadic cooperative evolution of “exhibit role–audience behavior–interactive media.” In terms of communicative strategies, the research expanded the modes of expression—from image and simulation to spatial immersion and audience activity—developing a deeply integrated transmission model that unites information delivery with behavioral logic. This framework offers a methodological foundation for differentiated exhibition design and personalized experiential pathways.
Third, through theoretical and element analysis, the study derived and structured the narrative characteristics of new media exhibition spaces in museums based on Embodied Cognition theory. Applying a three-tiered inferential logic of micro–meso–macro, it clarified how the characteristics of Embodied Cognition transform through spatial elements to construct museum narrative pathways. At the micro level, it analyzed how “body–perception” influences spatial function, circulation, and content expression. At the meso level, it explored how “action–interaction” manifests through technological media and interaction mechanisms. At the macro level, it focused on the “environment–cognition” relationship, revealing the connection between spatial atmosphere and narrative situation. On this basis, the study proposed an inferential path connecting Embodied Cognition characteristics–exhibition space features–narrative elements, and systematically summarized twelve composite narrative characteristics: condensed contextuality, intersecting multiplicity, decentered freedom, multi-focal permeability, guided immersion, symbiotic collaboration, immaterial virtuality, irregular openness, communicative integration, fluid corporeality, extraordinary playfulness, and non-representational abstraction. Building upon these derived characteristics, the research established a complete structural and operational framework for the narrativity of new media exhibition spaces in museums. Specifically, it integrated five core narrative elements—content, identity, perspective, medium, and spatiotemporal structure—into an organizational model described as “5L–4C12N.” This structure comprises five hierarchical layers (Embodied Cognition Layer, Classification Layer, Dual-Axis Component Layer, Characteristic Layer, and Objective Layer), four major categories (Perceptual Formation, Participatory Collaboration, Intelligent System, and Cognitive Integration), and twenty-seven detailed narrative characteristics.
Fourth, to verify the practical effectiveness of the derived characteristics and framework, case analyses were conducted on ten comprehensive museums in China: the Palace Museum (Beijing), Nanjing Museum, Zhejiang Museum, Henan Museum, Guangzhou Museum, Shanghai Museum, Hubei Museum, Chengdu Museum, Gansu Museum, and Hunan Museum. Based on the twelve narrative characteristics, an evaluation index system and seven evaluation pathways were developed, along with survey instruments encompassing visitor demographics, experiential satisfaction, and narrative feedback. Field studies and data collection were carried out across the ten museums, enabling comparative analysis of narrative performance and the identification of structural issues in spatial design, technological integration, and visitor experience.
Drawing from these empirical results, the study proposes several optimization strategies: enhancing spatial structure and circulation to improve spatial dynamism and narrative coherence; shifting from traditional linear routes to interactive fluid relationships among visitor, exhibition, and space; enriching narrative expression through diversity and abstraction by integrating multimedia interaction and virtual reality technologies; establishing visitor-centered co-creative platforms to foster agency and participatory storytelling; and utilizing AI and big data to dynamically match and optimize visitor behaviors and narrative content through intelligent feedback systems, thereby enhancing the adaptability and scalability of museum new media exhibitions.