Storytelling
Before we had mobile phones, 4G and high speed internet with which to share the entirety of human knowledge (and we instead use to share pictures of cats); indeed, well before older media even, such as television, or radio, or well before the advent of the printing press with which to share knowledge and information, we had storytelling.
Storytelling is a long, time honoured tradition of the passing and sharing of not only stories, but of information, knowledge and, most importantly, a society's culture and cultural traditions. Storytelling predates the written word and was one of the primary mechanisms that glued a people together.
Storytellers were revered people, and indeed they still are: strong bonds were formed between storytellers and their audiences around the campfire as our ancient fore-parents gathered to enjoy social interaction, food, and drink as the storyteller explained the world around them, why the moon lit the evening sky, the raven was black and why they were a community. Storytelling was for millennia the forum for sharing and interpreting life.
The warm fire, food, and drink were just as important as the stories shared with them, but societies and peoples world wide told stories to explain the unexplainable for as long as language existed. Everything we know today came to us originally in the form of stories, and we still ache and crave for stories to give us meaning and enlightenment: Neil Gaiman, JR Rowling, and even ancient storytellers such as Homer or more recent such as Shakespeare are all revered for their ability to build a narrative that gives us meaning: good vs. evil and it's ultimate triumph (Harry Potter), the futility of resisting fate (Oedipus Rex) or human's place in the world (about all Norse and Greek mythology).
Modern storytelling need not be around a campfire; we do have the internet and streaming video, after all, but there's still nothing quite like gathering around a fire with friends and neighbours, food, and drink on a cool evening to share some tales and build community.
All photos were created by me unless otherwise noted
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Admittedly I read plenty of those historical romances alright and got the $1 paperbacks at a favorite used bookstore. Add that to a seven day extra credit College level Narrative course, my childhood past time of playing pirates, and a bit of Gothic style and that's my shtick; Chronicles of the Bloody Raven.
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Sadly storytelling and reading seems to be of less interest to the younger generations these days they seem to prefer watching a video over actually reading, but I still try and make the time when I spend time with my Grandkids to either read books or make up my own stories with them which they seem to enjoy but suggesting they actually read a book themselves seems such a shocking idea to them
Thanks for a great and thought-provoking post
Thank you very much. I agree that it has become a lost art, particularly in the age of the sound-bite, short attention spans, and instant gratification. I was really happy with one of the local "living history" museums held storytelling time last autumn, where I took these pictures. It was a really good time to slow down and chat.
I always hope that times will change and return to as it was but sadly I doubt that will happen, but I still enjoy reading paper books even though on the train its easier just to read books on my Tablet and not carry books
I do like the sound of living history Museums
Love it!
And the meme is the modern distillation of the essence of storytelling, boiled down with ruthless efficiency, and allowing everyone to share the stories they believe in without actually partaking in the creation. Very interesting times we live in, and I think we would all benefit from some actual good old fashioned story telling around a campfire. Great post! Cheers - Carl
Yes! I specifically shied away from the term 'meme', despite it originally being used to explain the transmission of "cultural units," so as to not draw attention away from the image of a piano-playing cat. It's certainly heart warming to see other's understand too. Thanks for the kind words!
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Brought to you by @quochuy (steem witness)Howdy sir wwwiebe! I couldn't agree more, we need more of this. Of course you know that storytelling was the way the Native Americans passed down their culture and traditions and life wisdom and I've talked about that in my Wild West posts.
Those photos really set the mood and tone of your subject so well. Are you in Pennsylvania? I saw one of your posts say something about Lancaster county.
Thank you very much @janton! That was exactly the mood I was hoping to achieve and I'm glad it worked. I became interested in storytelling as a cultural good back in college in Calgary when we took a field trip to "Head Smashed-in Buffalo Jump." Fascinating stuff. I'm still particularly intrigued by Native American stories as well as old Norse stories and sagas.
I'm right beside Pennsylvania now in New Castle County, Delaware. I drive through Lancaster county often.
Howdy again sir wwwiebe! Well I can't think of a better part of the country to drive through, that's a blessing!
You were raised in Canada? What is "Head Smashed-in Buffalo Jump?" That sounds like something I need to know about.
Oh, so you like Native American stories.. I just finished a series about them which revealed tons of information on how they lived and their traditions because few white men ever lived with them.
Head Smashed In is a great place in southern Alberta. The ancestors to the Blackfoot that lived in the area would herd the buffalo into a stampede where they'd fall off a cliff and, upon landing, "smash their heads" in. This was done well before they had horses to ride to help them hunt. Wikipedia has an interesting article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head-Smashed-In_Buffalo_Jump.
Lancaster County really is beautiful, particularly in the autumn. Are you in the area?
I'm definitely browsing through your articles. I'll have more time tonight to give a deeper read.
Howdy sir wwiebe! That's a great article, thank you! I knew that tribes did this but the details in the article are very educational. I'm in North Texas but used to live for a time in Ohio close to the wonderful Amish settlements there and I've done quite a few posts about the Amish.