What is Storytelling?

1. What is Storytelling? • A statement by the National Storytelling Network defines Storytelling as an ancient art form and a valuable form of human expression. Because story is essential to so many art forms, however, the word “storytelling” is often used in many ways. • Storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination.

2. What is Storytelling? 1. Storytelling is interactive. 2. Storytelling uses words. 3. Storytelling uses actions such as vocalization, physical movement and/or gesture. 4. Storytelling presents a story. 5. Storytelling encourages the active imagination of the listeners.

3. 1. Storytelling is interactive. • Storytelling involves a two-way interaction • Storytelling does not create an imaginary barrier between the speaker and the listeners. • different forms of interaction for different situations • storytelling can directly and tightly connect the teller and audience.

4. 2. Storytelling uses words. • Storytelling uses language • Poetic devices - onamatopeia

5. 3. Storytelling uses actions such as vocalization, physical movement and/or gesture. • Their use distinguishes storytelling from writing and text-based computer interactions.

6. 4. Storytelling presents a story. • a narrative. • Every culture has its own definition of story. • Situations differ • Art forms sometimes present stories

7. 5. Storytelling encourages the active imagination of the listeners. • the listener imagines the story. • listener’s role • completed story happens in the mind of the listener

8. Storytelling can be combined with other art forms. • Drama • Music • Dance • Comedy • Puppetry • Numerous other forms of expression.

9. Storytelling happens in many situations • kitchen-table conversation • religious ritual • Performances • Some demand certain themes, attitudes, and artistic approaches.

10. What is Storytelling? 1. Storytelling is interactive. 2. Storytelling uses words. 3. Storytelling uses actions such as vocalization, physical movement and/or gesture. 4. Storytelling presents a story. 5. Storytelling encourages the active imagination of the listeners.

11. Interpreting Your Material • Meaning – vocabulary, themes, denotations, connotations • Feeling – mood • Interpreting Prose – persona – narrator, audience, or bystander • Characterization • Interpreting Poetry – Rhythm, Meter, Rhyme, Imagery, etc.

12. Presenting Your Material • Introduce your Material • Cutting Material • Developing Material • Practice your Material

13. Introduce your Material • Characters, relationships, important plot points • Establish mood • Keep introduction brief

14. Cutting Material • Start with the most important material – cut in, not out • Eliminate dialogue tags – he said’s • Eliminate stage directions • Eliminate minor characters that may confuse the listener • Cut references to events that will not be covered

15. Developing Material • Eye Contact • Character placement – look in a different place for each character – consistency • Characterization – voice, facial expressions, body position – voice rate, voice pitch, dialect (avoid stereotypes), subtle changes in character • Word color – pauses, changes in pitch, holding vowels, hitting consonants, manipulating tempo, unusual or unexpected emphasis • Showmanship – professional, confident, Show the audience that you are enjoying yourself.

16. Practice your Material • Duh!!!