Storytelling and Social Media
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David Tames
Oct 14, 2009, 4:37:42 PM10/14/09
to socialmedia.storytelling
How is oral storytelling in a face-to-face context similar to, and
different from, social media interactions like the messages that are
exchanged on Twitter? How might oral storytelling change in a web
context? How might social media change under the influence of oral
storytellers spending more time online? We need real and genuine
stories now more than ever, social media offers an opportunity for
more stories to be shared in new ways. What are these ways?
Lots of questions, curious what people think.
different from, social media interactions like the messages that are
exchanged on Twitter? How might oral storytelling change in a web
context? How might social media change under the influence of oral
storytellers spending more time online? We need real and genuine
stories now more than ever, social media offers an opportunity for
more stories to be shared in new ways. What are these ways?
Lots of questions, curious what people think.
ka...@wingspouse.com
Oct 14, 2009, 5:49:50 PM10/14/09
to socialmedia.storytelling
I was just reflecting back on comments made by my three teenage sons
after we attended the storytelling festival in Jonesborogh. I realized
that storytelling seemed so exhaustive to them because they are used
to communicating in short bursts. The future of communication depends
on maintaining a passion for colorful language, rather than short
acronyms. What are we to do to engage the next (and even current)
generation in the art and appreciation of oral painting?
I would propose that we need to promote vocabulary. Maybe short isn't
bad if there is more bang for the word.
after we attended the storytelling festival in Jonesborogh. I realized
that storytelling seemed so exhaustive to them because they are used
to communicating in short bursts. The future of communication depends
on maintaining a passion for colorful language, rather than short
acronyms. What are we to do to engage the next (and even current)
generation in the art and appreciation of oral painting?
I would propose that we need to promote vocabulary. Maybe short isn't
bad if there is more bang for the word.
Tim E
Oct 15, 2009, 4:46:34 PM10/15/09
to socialmedia.storytelling
Some broad sketches of my thinking:
Social media are tools for communicating. And while they are changing
notions of privacy, social activism, broadcasting, publishing, and
media itself, it's not clear that any of them are useful tools for
sharing stories.
Yes, these tools help you to carve out, express, and publish an online
persona. I argue with those that call this storytelling. These tools
allow users to shape a personal narrative (either consciously or
unconsciously)... but it's not telling a story. It's defining a
character. It may or may not have a narrative arc. And the ongoing
nature of microblogging/status updating means the story has no
ending... no particular arc... and in that case, I would argue, it's
not creating a story. Personal memoir is a popular genre of
storytelling (both in oral and print forms)... but story needs shape,
structure, and craft. A list of everything that ever happened to you
is not a compelling story... it's a list. It remains to be seen...
will the explosion of personal details broadcast on the Web mean that
personal memoir becomes even more popular? or will there be a
backlash?
Text messaging and Twitter have changed the way people share
information... but these are not primarily tools for telling stories.
Just as you don't use a screwdriver to pound a nail, you don't use
text messaging to teach a course in physics, or tell a story. (Oh, you
can... there's plenty of flash fiction and even the Mahabharata (one
sentence at a time) on Twitter... but it's a novelty). The only
similarity I see between texting and storytelling is that they share a
social grooming function.
Oral storytelling adapts to social media the same way it does to
traditional broadcast media: there's a disconnect between teller and
listener, that changes the dynamic of the storytelling. It becomes
virtual.
Oral storytelling works best with audio (podcasting), as the listener
still brings to the forefront his/her imagination to participate in
the storytelling event. With video (Youtube, etc.), there's another
layer of distance in the process... because the predominance of visual
imagery fights with the listener's ability to imagine, and from TV
we're trained to watch a performance.
Oral storytelling is not going to change social media. It could, if it
were not so much of an obscure practice. And until such time as
broadband video is ubiquitous (even wirelessly), text will continue to
dominate social media communication, followed by photos.
What the importance of the Web is in terms of sharing stories is
bridging the distances between people. I can connect with storytellers
in Iran, Spain, India, Latin America much easier than I could before.
The ability of the web to not only connect people, but allow them to
collaborate... that is the value of the web for storytelling.
Social media are tools for communicating. And while they are changing
notions of privacy, social activism, broadcasting, publishing, and
media itself, it's not clear that any of them are useful tools for
sharing stories.
Yes, these tools help you to carve out, express, and publish an online
persona. I argue with those that call this storytelling. These tools
allow users to shape a personal narrative (either consciously or
unconsciously)... but it's not telling a story. It's defining a
character. It may or may not have a narrative arc. And the ongoing
nature of microblogging/status updating means the story has no
ending... no particular arc... and in that case, I would argue, it's
not creating a story. Personal memoir is a popular genre of
storytelling (both in oral and print forms)... but story needs shape,
structure, and craft. A list of everything that ever happened to you
is not a compelling story... it's a list. It remains to be seen...
will the explosion of personal details broadcast on the Web mean that
personal memoir becomes even more popular? or will there be a
backlash?
Text messaging and Twitter have changed the way people share
information... but these are not primarily tools for telling stories.
Just as you don't use a screwdriver to pound a nail, you don't use
text messaging to teach a course in physics, or tell a story. (Oh, you
can... there's plenty of flash fiction and even the Mahabharata (one
sentence at a time) on Twitter... but it's a novelty). The only
similarity I see between texting and storytelling is that they share a
social grooming function.
Oral storytelling adapts to social media the same way it does to
traditional broadcast media: there's a disconnect between teller and
listener, that changes the dynamic of the storytelling. It becomes
virtual.
Oral storytelling works best with audio (podcasting), as the listener
still brings to the forefront his/her imagination to participate in
the storytelling event. With video (Youtube, etc.), there's another
layer of distance in the process... because the predominance of visual
imagery fights with the listener's ability to imagine, and from TV
we're trained to watch a performance.
Oral storytelling is not going to change social media. It could, if it
were not so much of an obscure practice. And until such time as
broadband video is ubiquitous (even wirelessly), text will continue to
dominate social media communication, followed by photos.
What the importance of the Web is in terms of sharing stories is
bridging the distances between people. I can connect with storytellers
in Iran, Spain, India, Latin America much easier than I could before.
The ability of the web to not only connect people, but allow them to
collaborate... that is the value of the web for storytelling.
Kathi Browne
Oct 28, 2009, 8:58:36 AM10/28/09
to socialmedia.storytelling
Tim, You're absolutely correct in saying that storytelling cannot
happen on twitter and may not be appropriate for some social media.
What is important is the recognition that social media is changing how
people communicate and therefore how storytelling can remain
successful. One of two things has to happen... either storytelling has
to adapt to a new style of communicating, or people have to be
educated to continue to enjoy the art of storytelling. My vote is the
latter, since communication is the key to education.
I posted an article recently, showing how storytelling teaches
leadership skills. If anyone is interested: http://www.knoxmoms.com/?page=blogs/view&BLID=6366
happen on twitter and may not be appropriate for some social media.
What is important is the recognition that social media is changing how
people communicate and therefore how storytelling can remain
successful. One of two things has to happen... either storytelling has
to adapt to a new style of communicating, or people have to be
educated to continue to enjoy the art of storytelling. My vote is the
latter, since communication is the key to education.
I posted an article recently, showing how storytelling teaches
leadership skills. If anyone is interested: http://www.knoxmoms.com/?page=blogs/view&BLID=6366
ro...@rosen.com
Oct 28, 2009, 9:24:19 AM10/28/09
to socialmedia...@googlegroups.com
Art changes. Storytelling will evolve like
all art. I'm not worried about storytelling.
What I'm worried about is the marketing/promotion of storytelling and that's where, I think, social media comes in.
The current mindset seems to be all about protecting the intellectual property of the storyteller. That's crazy given that almost no one is interested in stealing their property. If there was huge demand then we could talk about a response to theft but I think that's a problem for way down the road.
The problem now is building the fan base as the current base ages.
Social media should be promoted, not discouraged, at storytelling events. We should be encouraging fans to use twitter, facebbook, flickr, youtube and other sites to promote the events. We should encourage them to film and record the stories at events and share them with friends. Take the thousands showing up at the national festival, add a bit of social media encouragement, and we could expose the storytellers to an audience much bigger than they presently have. We could draw in more fans, grow the festivals, sell more CDs, etc.
The key is to get the festival organizers and the storytellers to do a 180 on their current position by showing them the opportunity that is available by turning the marketing over to the fans.
Just my two cents...
Lee
What I'm worried about is the marketing/promotion of storytelling and that's where, I think, social media comes in.
The current mindset seems to be all about protecting the intellectual property of the storyteller. That's crazy given that almost no one is interested in stealing their property. If there was huge demand then we could talk about a response to theft but I think that's a problem for way down the road.
The problem now is building the fan base as the current base ages.
Social media should be promoted, not discouraged, at storytelling events. We should be encouraging fans to use twitter, facebbook, flickr, youtube and other sites to promote the events. We should encourage them to film and record the stories at events and share them with friends. Take the thousands showing up at the national festival, add a bit of social media encouragement, and we could expose the storytellers to an audience much bigger than they presently have. We could draw in more fans, grow the festivals, sell more CDs, etc.
The key is to get the festival organizers and the storytellers to do a 180 on their current position by showing them the opportunity that is available by turning the marketing over to the fans.
Just my two cents...
Lee
| Kathi Browne <kathi...@yahoo.com>
Sent by: socialmedia...@googlegroups.com 10/28/2009 08:58 AM
|
|
Tim E
Oct 29, 2009, 12:58:06 PM10/29/09
to socialmedia.storytelling
Lee,
I see it as a generation gap.
On Oct 28, 6:24 am, ro...@rosen.com wrote:
> The current mindset seems to be all about protecting the intellectual
> property of the storyteller. That's crazy given that almost no one is
> interested in stealing their property....
proponents, came of age not only before the age of social media, but
before the internet and before the social revolutions created by the
home computer, the CD, and the portable video recorder. Things have
changed, but the storytelling festivals of the past 30 years are still
doing them the old-fashioned way.
In my opinion, we shouldn't look to the National Storytelling Festival
to lead the way. It would be great if they made the leap first, it
would set an example for the dozens of other festivals across the
country modeled on it.
But the National Festival's strength and success lie in its economic
development for the town of Jonesborough, not furthering the art of
storytelling. I know it professes to do both... but in its artistic
content and its technical production, the Festival is not furthering
the art so much as preserving what audiences want to see year after
year.
In doing so, it has ceded a national, mainstream profile of
storytelling to another venue. The Moth, based in New York, is just as
much a niche product as the National Storytelling Festival. But The
Moth and its spinoffs (in Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, etc)
have embraced social media (podcasts, online video, twitter, Facebook)
and in doing so have created enormous audience loyalty. In
addition.... and this I can't explain... The Moth has embraced
traditional media, through its high-visibility national partnerships
with The New Yorker magazine and Public Radio Exchange. Magazines and
Radio are hardly cutting edge... that The Moth beat the ISC to this
kind of media partnerships is astounding. (I guess a twenty-five year
head start isn't enough to overcome a geographic disadvantage ;-))
If there is to be any change in the traditional storytelling circuit
in regards to embracing social media as a way to engage and expand
audiences, it will come from younger festivals, in urban markets, who
are inspired by Jonesborough but who are also inspired by the TED
conference.
I see it as a generation gap.
On Oct 28, 6:24 am, ro...@rosen.com wrote:
> The current mindset seems to be all about protecting the intellectual
> property of the storyteller. That's crazy given that almost no one is
> Social media should be promoted, not discouraged, at storytelling events.
> We should be encouraging fans to use twitter, facebbook, flickr, youtube
> and other sites to promote the events.
The American Storytelling Revival, both its artists and its
> We should be encouraging fans to use twitter, facebbook, flickr, youtube
> and other sites to promote the events.
proponents, came of age not only before the age of social media, but
before the internet and before the social revolutions created by the
home computer, the CD, and the portable video recorder. Things have
changed, but the storytelling festivals of the past 30 years are still
doing them the old-fashioned way.
In my opinion, we shouldn't look to the National Storytelling Festival
to lead the way. It would be great if they made the leap first, it
would set an example for the dozens of other festivals across the
country modeled on it.
But the National Festival's strength and success lie in its economic
development for the town of Jonesborough, not furthering the art of
storytelling. I know it professes to do both... but in its artistic
content and its technical production, the Festival is not furthering
the art so much as preserving what audiences want to see year after
year.
In doing so, it has ceded a national, mainstream profile of
storytelling to another venue. The Moth, based in New York, is just as
much a niche product as the National Storytelling Festival. But The
Moth and its spinoffs (in Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, etc)
have embraced social media (podcasts, online video, twitter, Facebook)
and in doing so have created enormous audience loyalty. In
addition.... and this I can't explain... The Moth has embraced
traditional media, through its high-visibility national partnerships
with The New Yorker magazine and Public Radio Exchange. Magazines and
Radio are hardly cutting edge... that The Moth beat the ISC to this
kind of media partnerships is astounding. (I guess a twenty-five year
head start isn't enough to overcome a geographic disadvantage ;-))
If there is to be any change in the traditional storytelling circuit
in regards to embracing social media as a way to engage and expand
audiences, it will come from younger festivals, in urban markets, who
are inspired by Jonesborough but who are also inspired by the TED
conference.
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