This is a fascinating article.
“Babies are born with a musical readiness that includes a basic sense of timing and rhythm,” declares Trevarthen, of the University of Edinburgh.
“Our brains possess a storytelling sense that is an essential component of musicality from the beginning,” says Trevarthen.
From his perspective, musical story telling prepares infants to learn the rhythms and format of a native language. Adult forms of music, as well as dance and drama, spring from the intricately structured yarns spun by babies and mothers.”
Fraud Charges Against Oracle Remind Us That Storytelling Gravitates Toward Corporate Train Wrecks
Thoughtful post from Lou Hoffman.
“But when Oracle does communicate to the outside world, they can still apply storytelling techniques.
I don’t mean they should strive to entertain.
This story will be plenty entertaining without Larry channeling Wayne’s World with a top-10 list on why the government has a “shweet” deal with Oracle.
Here’s what I do mean.”
I’ll Be Hoping For the Big One Out of the Blue
This is a neat story.
“This is a story about the way one book–on old-fashioned, ink-on-paper kind of book–saved a really cool piece of history.”
The United States of Storytelling: Folktales and True Stories from the Western States
This looks like it will be worth reading.
“The tales of lumberman Paul Bunyan from Washington. The Native American Choctaw “codetalkers” who played a vital role in World War I. Jeanette Rankin, elected to the U.S. Congress—before women could vote. Despite being one of the youngest nations, United States history has a rich tapestry of stories—much of which is unknown.”
Why PR Should Be All About Storytelling
“Today, storytelling may seem quaint. It’s not. Thanks to technology, some of the largest and savviest organizations in the world are discovering that storytelling is even more important today — and more powerful.
Storytelling is so powerful that it should be the primary goal of all your public relations. In fact, banish the words publicity and public relations from your vocabulary. Focus on storytelling, and tap into an essential human motivator that has propelled humankind for thousands of years.
When I say “storytelling,” I mean with a capital “S.” Small “s” storytelling is well understood by journalists and the professionals who work with them. I am talking about a bigger view of your story than what a journalist crams into a 500-word story.”
Designers Sought to Tell Stories of Sex-Trade Victims
Worthwhile cause and story to support, don’t you think?
“Be a Biographer” invites designers, artists and creative-minded people to help tell the stories of victims and survivors of the commercial sex trade through their designs. “We want to connect your talents with her needs. For freedom, love, hope, dignity and protection. Our role is simple. To tell her story. To be her biographer,” said Anthony Dodero, co‐founder of The Blind Project.”
“Storytelling” and “The Age of Persuasion”: Two books on advertising
“Once upon a time may never be the same. For more than a century, storytelling and advertising have shared the same multimedia bed, provoking, manipulating, offending and occasionally entertaining the masses. But never has the combination of narrative and branding been as pronounced, exciting or dangerous as it is now. For every clever and entertaining viral sensation such as Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like,” there are countless other messages, from corporate-sponsored bloggers, YouTube activists and every medium or channel in the social media universe where it is nearly impossible to separate creative expression from insidious corporate pitch.”
Using Storytelling to Cope with the Stress of Change
“In July 2006, Business Week published a cover story on company mistakes and failures in which author Jena McGregor listed sharing personal stories of failure as a best practice in dealing with mistakes. “If employees hear leaders discussing their own failures,” McGregor writes, “they’ll be more comfortable talking about their own.” The cover story features several sidebars in which executives describe their favorite mistakes. Mistakes and failures can, of course, be a great source of learning when future changes roll around, as in this example story:…”
Jesus knew the art of storytelling
Seems apropos for a Sunday post.
“It was the invention of language that permitted our forebears to transcend their restricted environment. Equipped with words, they could not only reminisce about the past but speculate about the future, imagining places they had never visited or that existed only in their fancies.
A compelling tale can be true to fact or to fiction (or to both), wielding the power to instruct, caution, reassure, uplift, entertain and even terrify. Good stories give promise of transcendence beyond commonplace experience.”
Is Stand-Up Comedy Storytelling?
“Fresh off of a four-week stand-up comedy course, my answer to this question is yes, it is. However there are subtle differences between the two: Traditional storytelling tends to be longer form; stand-up tends to be shorter. Traditional storytelling tends to focus on one journey; stand-up is often about several disjointed experiences.”
“The United Nations Millennium Development Goals—the ambitious list of global objectives put together by world leaders in September of 2000—have just five years until the deadline and are seriously behind schedule. With pie-in-the-sky targets like education for everyone everywhere and ending extreme poverty and hunger, students at the Knight Center for International Media from the University of Miami’s School of Communication decided to take a different approach to the high-minded initiative.
Realizing that often the most effective way to effect change in people is to tell the human side, Knight collaborated with journalism students around the world to tell the stories behind the goals.”
Let’s Make Storytelling for Business Simple: Surprising Your Audience
“I recently saw a movie that disappointed me. I expected it to be better. After all, the cast were A-listers, the premise looked fun, and the film seemed like it would be fun and entertaining. But it fell flat.
Why?
Because after less than 2 minutes, I already spun out the entire plot for the movie. Oh sure, I missed some of the slapstick elements, but I knew exactly what to expect throughout the movie.
What an unsatisfying experience. And I suspect you’ve had that happen to you.
I like to be surprised and captivated by a story. And I know you do too.”
Why so little success with corporate storytelling? Here’s what to do instead.
This is an interesting perspective.
“Marketers interested in experimenting with storytelling can start with a low-risk, low-cost piece of collateral: the customer case study. Use narrative structure to engage prospective customers. Add resonance to your value proposition.”
The new journalism grad requirements
“When it comes to writing, Lauderdale says everyone should know AP Style, grammar, spelling and timecode (or how to log media).
“Every journalist needs writing and image composition skills,” Lauderdale says.
Bottom line on getting a job?
“Graduates need more than a degree,” Lauderdale says. “They need technical ability, internship experience, clips on a portfolio site, a non-academic reference and a love of storytelling.”
7 Tips For Telling A Hopeful Story
This is well worth reading.
“How much can a blind woman teach you about filmmaking? Turns out, quite a bit.
As I reflect on my Buffalo Walk piece, and prepare to dive into the rest of my footage from my cross-country drive, I’m grappling with how to create a short documentary that’s both hopeful and gripping. How do I tell a story that’s positive, yet doesn’t fall into the trap of being naïve?
At yesterday’s National Storytelling Conference in LA I had the pleasure of attending Wendy Edey‘s excellent talk on hopeful storytelling.”
“The key to great marketing is to figure out where your audience is in your story. And, then start the story at that point and bring them along with you.
Your story doesn’t need to be complicated or long. Often you have no more than a few seconds to deliver. Yet, it needs to be purposeful and most of all complete.”
Richard Branson launches Virgin Money in Australia with a simple story
A nice “how to”.
“Andy: so tell us about this new venture Sir Richard
Sir Richard: Until recently Australia had nine banks but the big four gobbled up the smaller ones leaving Australian with little choice and higher fees. Virgin Money has arrived to give Australians a choice again.
That night I was watching the 7pm Project and there was Richard telling the same simple story.”
