A Presentation by Terence Adjei-OtchwemahOn 27/09/2013 @ D.O.T.T.S.

A Brief History of Storytelling“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” ― Rudyard Kipling, The Collected Works

Stories Unending

We’ve really always told stories In different styles, languages, and forms In art, music, dance, and the spoken word we have created and transmitted stories for

centuries.. Some highlights..

Rock Art

Cave Paintings were used by prehistoric men across different continents

They were used to depict local flora and fauna

As well as to tell stories of hunts or more religious themes

Oral Traditions

Before the advent of forms of writing, cultural norms, traditions, and tales were transmitted orally

This function was so central to societies that a number of individuals specialized in relating these oral traditions to members of the society

These storytellers thus served as the guardians and transmitters of their people’s tradition

These stories were told in the form of drama, dance, prose, or poetry.

To the right is a Kyrgyz manaschi..

The Written Tale

The advent of writing allowed the tales and traditions of people to be set down in a more permanent manner.

Writing would ensure that tales could not be corrupted or lost over time

Many of these written tales have survived through the ages and afford us a unique glimpse into ancient cultures and mores.

This form of storytelling has effectively survived unchanged into the modern era.

To the right you see the Deluge Tablet upon which is inscribed part of the Epic of Gilgamesh(circa 18BC)

The Performance of The Story

Many stories were told not just through oral recitation or written to be read but were performed before the people.

These performances helped to illustrate the story to be told before the audience

Many specialized groups were formed in societies to conduct this duty

Here we see an actor performing as sugriva in the Hindu epic, Ramayana.

Remembered in Song

Some cultures kept and transmitted storied in the form of song.

Songs were particularly effective due to being easy to remember and easily related and memorized.

Ballads and epics served to preserve certain stories across the ages

The song of the Prophetess Deborah as recorded in the Bible is one such example.

WAIT, What’s a Story Anyway?

“Artists use lies to tell the truth. Yes, I created a lie. But because you believed it, you found something true about yourself.” 

― Alan Moore, V for Vendetta

Stories and Storytelling

Well technically, it’s just relating a sequence of events. However, I’d say it’s more than that A story is truly a way to capture and communicate a human experience to another

person. In the contexts of a culture, a story is just a way of preserving that culture’s tradition’s,

religion, and mores. The art of storytelling then, revolves around preparing and presenting the information

in the most relatable fashion possible. Consider Akan stories and proverbs…

How Has Storytelling Changed?

The traditional forms of storytelling: oral, written, drama, etc. remain extant But stories and storytelling have undergone some major changes:

Ownership of the story The reach of the story Different Styles of presenting the story

Take a look at some of the new ways stories are being told today..

Owning The Tale

Most traditional forms of storytelling do not ascribe a particular author to the tale

Stories were considered to be commonly owned and commonly shared

In this way, different versions of a story could be commonly found, as there was no fear of ‘copyright’ e.g. Many ancient tales such as The Stories of

Ananse or Beowulf have no definite author.. However, the advent of the written form

changed all this as stories came to be more definitely owned by the individual and not the group.

The Reach of the Story

Ancient stories used to be targeted at fairly homogenous groups

Modern storytelling however, has transcended cultural barriers and is targeted at people in general.

This does not mean that stories have lost their cultural context..

Rather, storytellers have learnt that their stories transcend individual cultures and practices..

Different Ways To Tell The Tale

The different ways that ancient cultures used to tell stories is testament to the flexibility of storytelling as a medium

In modern times and with the rise of technology, we may have seen a slow decline in the traditional forms of storytelling such as written and oral forms.

However, new technologies have birthed even richer ways to tell stories. Take a look at a few..

Lights, Camera, Action

Perhaps the most recognizable form of storytelling today

The advent of the cinema has taken the concept of drama and expanded it

Movies today allow stories to be told in easily consumable and distributable formats all over the world.

Millions pack into the cinemas for various movie releases every weekend across the world

Animation

Visual art has existed for centuries and has served well as a method of storytelling which abstracts the direct human element

Visual tales such as those of TinTin and Asterix have captured the minds and hearts of many across the world

The rise of technology has allowed for a greater exploration of this form of storytelling

Leaders in this area are the forms of manga (physically drawn storylines) and anime in Japan. See Maus and the work of Miyazaki.

Video Games are Stories Too You Know

Starting from arcade games, to MUDs, and the creation of Dungeons & Dragons, a new form of participatory storytelling was birthed alongside the internet and computers

Movies seek to immerse the person in the story visually

But video games and gaming immerse people in a story by requiring their participation

In this way, powerful connections can be created between the story that is told and the individual who lives it.

What’s In A Story Anyway?

“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can't remember who we are or why we're here.” 

― Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees:

Impact of A Story

A story today is more than a piece of text, more than 190mins of film, more than an hour long play.

A story is a shared human experience a way to not only glimpse but be totally immersed in another’s life.

That is why a story from a culture totally different to yours and in a form you may be unfamiliar with, can still draw an emotional reaction

It is because at the heart of it all the essence of our humanity is common. It is shared.

Consider these stories..

Sarafina Maus A Tale of Two Cities Amistad Memoirs of a Geisha Les Miserables Naruto Final Fantasy 7 A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Tell Your Own Story

The beauty of a story is it can serve whatever theme the author wishes

The strength of a well-told story is it’s ability to make a connection even in those far from the author’s time, culture, or context.

Stories have been told around cars, phones, even shoes. Not to mention human lives

They remain one of the most effective methods of generating empathy and sympathy in others.

Dedication: Prof. Kofi Awoonor

A Husband A Father A Storyteller R.I.P.