Oral storytelling

Amidst the constant evolution of human culture, the presence of stories has remained a consistent and integral part of both society and its folk groups. Often passed verbally through the generations, stories act as an indication of the beliefs and concerns of the people, reinforcing their position and role in their communities. I investigated the transmission and belief of prediction stories in Polish families, where they are called przepowiednie. In this essay, I will discuss whether knowledge…

that don’t conform to narrative storytelling norms. Jason Mittell’s conceptualization of “narrative complexity” analyzes the mechanics behind shows such as Game of Thrones; their unconventional storytelling becoming more of the norm for contemporary television. Within narrative complexity, Mittell explores television shows’ operational aesthetics, which are seen in Game of Thrones’ unorthodox plot structure. The economic decisions behind Game of Thrones storytelling techniques are also critiqued…

dramas are used to “engage audiences, introduce ideas, and empower people to make better-informed decisions” leading to social change. In the case of East Los High, the objective is to engage young Latinas in their late teens and early women through storytelling, to inform them about health issues related to sexual health and relationships and to encourage them to make healthier decisions. Another objective is to get the audience to discuss the show and to share the resources offered by the…

Shakespeare uses a storytelling framework to create an image of Caesar as something inhuman by first building him up as untouchable, myth-like god and then breaking him down into something less then human. Shakespeare employs this storytelling technique to not only portray Caesar as a weak man, but also rise the audience’s suspicion over Cassius motivations. Shakespeare in the beginning of the passage frames how Cassius wants his audience to hear his speech as an act of storytelling…

Essay 2 Prepare for the Show Every once in a while, something comes along in this world that is special. It has the potential to change everything about the way you look at the world. Breaking Bad has done exactly that. Its premise is simple:the unexpected life of a chemistry teacher. Any more information and I may risk ruining this unique show for you. And I have the feeling you are specifically going to enjoy this show. You need to be the type of person who listens and pays attention to all…

The magic is an enhancement to the storytelling in a way that it is an extension of the character, rather than a crutch the characters lean on. For example, in Monkey’s earliest battle against the Demon of Havoc, Monkey performs some awe-inspiring and shock value magic. “He plucked out a handful…

Exercise 4: Gesture and Gaze in Conversational Storytelling In order to make their narrative more plausible and detailed, many will use more than just a verbal account to illustrate their stories. Instead, they use gazes and gestures. In conversational storytelling, which is a collaborative event, gestures have meaningful functions that are tied to the description of the story. Simply defined, a gesture is the movement of the body that expresses a thought or feeling. In the video-recorded…

past can continue to hinder our future, or as Peter Guber proclaims in his book “Tell to Win” the story of our past can help us to move an audience to action. In chapter 4 of Peter Guber’s novel, Tell to Win, teaches us how to use backstory in storytelling. He shares with us the challenges of the backstory and how this can help in positive ways any storyteller regardless if they are great storytellers or not. Guber uses the term backstory to stress the importance of one’s past in order to have a…

Presentation and Explanation of Concept to be Investigated One of the beginning cornerstones in this devising theatre challenge was the concept of fractured narratives, referring to the idea that a story can be told through non complete chunks or scenes which, when strung together, convey a story. Fractured narratives can be used in several ways: for example, scenes where multiple conversations are being held at once may use fractured narratives in jumping between conversations, without…

Her stories then shift to the nucleus of life in the west side Barrio to her grandmother’s house. Like the hub of a wheel, all family life came from it and especially in the kitchen where they gathered making tamales at Christmas and learning life lessons sitting around the table beneath the light fixture. “A light socket, a light bulb and a dangling string, so primitive yet heartwarming, it was a sure sign of home,” she wrote. The tales fluctuate from climbing backyard chicken coops and trees,…