Love Storytelling?

Subject: RE: Love Storytelling?
From: CapriUni
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 04:34 PM

Thanks, Susan! I like my theory pretty well myself.

It is a pet theory, but I haven't come up with a name for her yet.

But she is housebroken... hhhmmm... Maybe I'll name her Rambles. ;-)

I came to the conclusion that language itself is not exclusively human one day while I was waiting for a ride to show up. I heard a crow cawing somewhere overhead, and tried to spot the particular bird, just as an excerise. When I pinpointed the location, however, I discovered it was not a crow, but a pair of mocking birds, who were in the process of dive-bombing a crow perched nearby (who was silent).

They were using the crow's own call to tell the crow to get the $#%^~*#%! out of their territory.

They were using a specific signal for a specific audience. If that doesn't qualify as at least some sort of proto-languange, I don't know what does!

I never really bought that language is exclusively human, anyway. But witnessing that clinched it.

...And ever since then, I've thought of "mocking" birds as "translator" birds *BG*

Subject: RE: Love Storytelling?
From: GUEST,Dagenham Doc
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 04:25 PM

When I was a boy my old Dad would tell me a story every night without fail. I loved the stories, even the same ones he told me over and over again. When my girls were young I told them the same stories and added a few of my own on. Now .. I am about to become a grandfather for the first time. Have I got a few stories to tell.

Doc.

Subject: RE: Love Storytelling?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 04:12 PM

Great post, CU. I like your theory.

~S~

Subject: RE: Love Storytelling?
From: little john cameron
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 03:14 PM

There are a few daft Scottish stories in here written by twa heidcases.Haha.ljc

Scribblers

Subject: RE: Love Storytelling?
From: CapriUni
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 02:05 PM

I have a personal theory that it isn't language, per se, that is unique to humans (after all, I've seen other animals comunicate with each other and with us using a decodable system of sounds and posture), but what we do with it: tell stories.

Humans are the only creatures I've come in contact with that perform what I call the "storytelling ritual", where a large number of individuals in a group focus their entire attention on one other member of their group for an extended period of time, with their attention so focussed that their immediate environment shifts almost entirely to the periphery of their consciousness -- almost like when we dream, and are no longer conscious of the bed we sleep in, or the sound around us -- only during storytelling, everyone is sharing the same "dream".

Only humans do this... and I can't think of any human culture that does not have storytelling. It is so unique to humans, and so pervasive, that I can't help but think that this ability evolved to help us survive, somehow, and that our languages became more complex than other animals to support the ability to tell stories, rather than storytelling coming about as a way to do something with our language.

Even with the decline of one-on-one oral storytelling, this dynamic still continues when millions of people go to see a movie made by a couple of hundred people, or when we watch the same tv show in the evening.

I think the main reason why a tv show, movie, or book can't hold the attention of an audience the way a live storyteller can, is that a live storyteller is present with the audience, and can modulate the energy of her or his telling in response to the listeners' energy -- it's a collaboration.

But a book, movie or tv show are all produced away from the audience -- separated by both space and time.

I think it may be the same reason why a live concert is more exciting than listening to a recording -- for many people, at least.

Subject: RE: Love Storytelling?
From: mack/misophist
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 06:13 PM

Back before TV corrupted us all, storey telling was a social skill. Sometimes I'm glad I'm old.

Subject: RE: Love Storytelling?
From: Amergin
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 04:23 PM

i like making up the stories....especially if they make folks laugh....

Subject: RE: Love Storytelling?
From: E.T.
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 04:12 PM

Susan - if you go to google and type in tall tales - fish stories (or the other way round if that doesn't get it) on the third one on page 2 (with "belles lettres" in the title - you will get Charles larkin's wonderful collection of tales. Also this next weekend in Kalamazoo MI is a storytelling festival all weekend!. Will get more info if you want. Elaine

Subject: RE: Love Storytelling?
From: kendall
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 04:09 PM

As a storyteller I must admit that I do enjoy doing it. I have programs for adults, (never a 4 letter word) and I have a children's program. They love it; and I doubt that a tv show could hold their interest like a live storyteller can.

Subject: RE: Love Storytelling?
From: CapriUni
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 03:28 PM

Thanks, Susan! I do love storytelling, and I will definitely bookmark that site!

Subject: Love Storytelling?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 03:15 PM

Came across this today while looking for something else:

Swapping Stories: Folktales from Louisiana - Online Resources

Included are links to:

From the Swapping Stories Web Site

Swapping Stories: Folktales from Louisiana (on LPB server)

About the Video Program

Why are Folktales Important?

Storytelling Glossary

A Storyteller's Perspective by Bertney Langley, Koasati Storyteller

Excerpts from the Book

Louisiana's Traditional Cultures: An Overview, by Maida Owens

Louisiana's Traditional Cultures (printer-friendly), by Maida Owens

Louisiana's Folktale Traditions, by Carl Lindahl

Louisiana's Folktale Traditions (Outline)

Swapping Stories Index of Motifs

About the Transcriptions

Bel Abbey Introduction from Swapping Stories

Swapping Stories Isleño Notes

The Stories

The Alligator Peach Tree, Pierre Daigle

Another Big Fish Story, by Lonnie Gray

The Arcadia Dating Game, by Harold Talbert

Bel's Encounter with a Wise Owl, by Bel Abbey

Ben Lilly, Strong Man of Morehouse Parish, by James B. Rider

Bouki and Lapin in the Garden, by Max Greig

Bouki, Lapin et Rat de Bois (Bouki, Lapin and Possum) by Enola Matthews

From the LPB site

From The Educator's Guide on this website

Brer Rabbit and the Tarbaby, by Dolores Henderson

Bull Talk, by Governor Jimmie H. Davis

A Chitimacha Flood Story, by Nicholas L. Stouff

Does He Drive, Too?, by A.J. Smith

From the LPB site (video)

From The Educator's Guide on this website

Elvis Comes to Angie, by Mary Etta Scarborough Moody

An Extra Passenger on the Bus, by Harold Talbert

The First Meeting of the Indians and the Europeans (version 1), by Bel Abbey

First Meeting of the Indians and Europeans (version 2), by Bel Abbey

God Works in Mysterious Ways, by Harry Methvin

How the Bat Got Its Wings, by Bertney Langley

How the Koasati Got Their Name, by Bertney Langley

The Husband's Return, by Irvan Perez

I'm Going to Leave You, Chère, by Harry Lee Leger (video)

It Was So Cold, by Lonnie Gray

It Was So Hot, Lonnie Gray

Jean Sot, la vache, les chiens et sa petite soeur (Jean Sot, the Cow, the Dogs, and Little Sister), by Enola Matthews

Learning from the Bear, by Bel Abbey

Leaving Mississippi, by Robert Albritton (video)

The Legend of the Brooch, by Wendell Lindsay

The Life of a Crab Fisherman, by Irvan Perez

Life Saving Sirens, by Loulan Pitre

The Little Tar Man, by Wilson "Ben Guiné" Mitchell

Loup Garou as Shadow Companion, by Glen Pitre (video)

Mosquitoes Save a Life, by Harry Methvin

From The Educator's Guide on this website

From the LPB site

On Top of Old Smoky, by Harry Methvin

An Oyster-culling Loup Garou, by Loulan Pitre (video)

Paying the Price for a Free Train Ride, by Harold Talbert

The Politician Gets His (two versions), by Hubert L. "Anatoo" Clement, Sr.

The Reverend Gets the Possum, by Sarah Albritton (audio)

Setecientos setentaisiete (Seventeen Seventy-Seven), by Irvan Perez

The Shadow Companion, by Loulan Pitre (video)

She Has the Key, by Sarah Albritton (audio)

Shine and the Titanic, by Arthur "Arthuro" Pfister

Swapping Stories, by Dave Petitjean and A. J. Smith (video)

A Tale About a Catfish, by Sarah Kent

Les trois couillon (The Three Fools), by Enola Matthews

Les trois Jobs (The Three Jobs), by Enola Matthews

The Turtle and the Rabbit Run a Race, by Bel Abbey

Walking on Water, by Governor Jimmie H. Davis

The Widow's Buried Gold, by Pierre Daigle

Wrestling Mania, by Harold Talbert

Why the Frog Croaks, by Tang Thi Thanh Van

You Think I'm Working, But I'm Not, by Robert Albritton (video)

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Those are transcribed stories, not sound files, but WOW!

~Susan