Oral Tradition--Who is Your Family Storyteller

In an article posted by the Cultural Heritage Initiative for Community Outreach (CHICO) based at the University of Michigan School of Information (http://www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/UMS/drummers/index.html), a description of the oral tradition is provided. It says that storytelling is a way in which people make sense of what is going on around them on a day to day basis.

My mother is a perfect example of this. She tells her stories, every day, about the things that have had an impact on her life and on the lives of her family. Not only does she tell them, she repeats them at the mere mention of some word or some action that triggers the tale to be told--again, and, yes, again. Do I mind? On occasion I have to admit that I suck in my breath and prepare myself for yet one more rendition of the time that, for example, my under-age uncle ran away and joined the Army Airforce by forging my grandmother's name for permission. Yet, each time it's told she seems to divulge just a tad more of what happened that day, what my grandmother did, or other bits of information that she seemed to be holding on to in order to share them at just the right time for her audience. When the story begins to shift, my flagging attention is yanked into full alert. That wasn't the way she told this before! Yes, one more time my Mom has captured me in her storytelling spell. Who is your family storyteller?

What does Wikipedia Say?

So what does Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, have to say about "Storytelling?" I've provided the link because you may find the variety of, and individuals involved in, the art of storytelling to be very interesting. From Charles Laughton and Rod Stewart, to the current generation and Catherine McPhee (of American Idol fame)--storytellers all!

A Southern Storyteller with a Fabulous Funnybone!

I just received the monthly edition of my friend Judy Lockhart DiGregorio's column. I look forward to receiving each story from Judy because you never know what to expect--except that you know that your funnybone will definitely be tickled. Check out Judy's website (and her stories) at www.judyjabber.com

Has Storytelling Become a Communications Lost Art?

It occurred to me, recently, that with the advancement of technology and the speed at which communication takes place (think Twitter and other social media) that storytelling as a means of communication has undergone a dramatic change. Without being judgmental--is this a good thing or not--I began to wonder how this might impact daily life. Will storytelling, as an art-form, become a lost art?

Thinking about storytelling, and the impact that losing this form of communication could have on a society, encouraged me to start this blog. Storytelling is part of the visual arts, performance art, child-rearing, business planning and negotiations, and is even an important leadership skill. What do you believe will happen to the art of storytelling over the next decade?