naturerecordists
[Top] [All Lists]

Can the art of storytelling thrive in a setting with explicit educationa

Subject: Can the art of storytelling thrive in a setting with explicit educationa=
l goals?
 As the teller I must constantly monitor the emotional involvement of the l=
isteners.  This is what makes the difference between the informance and a l=
ecture. While the narrative can carry facts, the appeal to the listener to =
imagine detail in the story, including the emotions felt by the characters,=
 must be maintained.  If this is lost through an overload of fact, the adva=
ntages of storytelling have been lost and the session has become more didac=
tic.

While many nature centers offer hands-on activities, the appeal of storytel=
ling to create a sense of caring for the birds could be called a hearts-on =
activity.  A skilled storyteller must maintain emotional rapport with the l=
isteners and constantly determine the viability of the story. Richard Chase=
, the noted folklorist, cites one of his informants, "No, it'll not do just=
 to read the good old tales out of a book. You've got to tell 'em to make '=
em go right". (Chase, l948)

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
  • Can the art of storytelling thrive in a setting with explicit educationa=, Unknown <=
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the naturerecordists mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU