Storytelling

It has been said, as many things are said - with bravado but not much thought

That storytelling has disappeared or is of no more use, 

as my daughter, Blair, and I discussed this morning.

She jumped into the discussion. 

I knew if I were only quiet, 

She would enlighten me.

She was indignant. Of course storytelling was not dead.

We were surrounded by storytellers, they filled our lives

and our minds, sometime with chatter, at times with wisdom

Storytellers can be found on Ted Talks, YouTube, Facebook, in a movie or video

or opera. 

Parents read stories to their children

Religious leaders tell stories to explain doctrine

Teachers create stories to help students learn

Our healers tell stories, just as shamans once did, and perhaps still do

Their stories explain why we got sick and how to get well

Parents tell stories to socialize their children

Religious leaders use stories to encourage us to behave in appropriate ways. 

Lawyers are not known to publicly refer to themselves as storytellers, 

yet they realize that the lawyer who tells the most captivating story will win the trial. 

They weave the evidence into stories to try to lead the jury to exonerate or convict.

Perhaps the actual question is how storytelling has changed over time, even though we 

are surrounded by stories

Storytelling used to be a personal relationship, with eye contact, vocalizations, body language, and discussion

It was, as my daughter said, a performance, a social performance