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Brian Sturm is a professor at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill who provides an innovative look at storytelling. When we think of stories, we think of them as having certain characteristics: a beginning, middle, end, characters, progression and so on. But Sturm argues that storytelling provides something larger: a way of organizing information. He says we can look at these characteristics as dots of data on a screen, where the story is the way we connect the dots. And how we connect the dots, changes the kinds of stories we create.
He says that as a whole, stories are not so much about plot, but rather about building community. Stories allow us to say what we need to say in an accessible and less invasive manner. Sturm discusses the traits needed to be a successful storyteller and how if you follow certain techniques you can transport listeners to altered states of consciousness.
The art of storytelling is no doubt an important art to master, whether you are relying on it to sell a product or teach your children values. Stories allow us to share our lives, connect with others and expand our emotional vocabulary.
Instructor: Brian SturmLocation: University of North Carolina
Length: 31-60 mins
Subjects: Writing
Tags: storytelling.
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi
I would love pdf copies of the diagrams that are used in your lecture. Are they availible?
Thank you
kathy dellamia
720 298 4169
Storytime Yoga
Spellbinder
visionary
Kathy,
I just read your comment on the virtual professor site – I didn’t know this site existed – so I’m sorry for the delay in getting to you. I can email you pdf copies of those two diagrams if you’d like so email me your address. Please drop me an email to the address included, and I’ll send them along.
Cheers,
Brian
Hello Brian
thanks for that, it was brilliant. I’m just in the process of starting a new project “A Story Revolution” which aims to spread story across the whole of society for transformation and change. I’ve got a meeting with a University Provost tomorrow to try and convince him of the importance of the project and the opportunities that it offers for research and development. Your talk has really helped to focus me. Like the other person I’d love it if you could send me pdf’s of your models. Would be even better if we could talk one day. What do you think?
Thanks again
Suzanne
Hi Brian,
Very interesting and informative presentation.
Thank you !
Karl
Thanks for taking the time to watch it, Karl. If you have ideas or suggestions of things I have forgotten, this is all a work in progress, and I welcome your input.
Hello, Brian.
very interesting lecture. Brian, I’m a teacher. One day one of my student asked me about performing a story telling. Is it a must to use a media to deliver a story telling? thanks
Hi Rani,
You must use a communication medium of some sort (voice, book, technology, etc.), as all communication involves a sender, a receiver, and some kind of transfer medium….unless, of course, you want to consider telling yourself a story in your head, storytelling. Does that answer your question?
Brian,
I am working on a storytelling for social impact course. I would greatly appreciate copies of your diagrams.
Loved your presentation.
Thank you.
Brain thank you for the video. I am watching it right now and I would like to get the diagram as a pdf. Is this possible? my email is: alfredspost@gmx.de
would be wonderful!
Hello Brian, thank you very much for thiS interesting video . I am a student on the third year of the BA Hons in Education and I chossen storytelling as my topic for my dissertation as I love storytelling and I believe that now day in our primary schools there is not much emphasis on this topic I would be very greatfull if I could have the diagram as a PDF file if it is possible my email address is sonila_uk@hotmail.com
Once again thank you
Regards
Sonila
Sonila and anyone else who is interested:
I have an article online that will give you the Storylistening Trance model and a thorough description of it. Please see: http://www.jstor.org/stable/542104\
The storylistening experience model has only been published and explained in my dissertation, but a Powerpoint of several story-related models I am working on (including that one) is available at:
http://ils.unc.edu/~sturm/storytelling/storymodels.ppt
Thanks for your interest.
Brian
Thank you Brian.
Finding this post svloes a problem for me. Thanks!
Jillian February 4, 2012 at 10:34 am
Brian,
I am working on a storytelling for social impact course. I would greatly appreciate copies of your diagrams.
Loved your presentation.
Thank you.
Jillian
Dear Brian,
Thank you for sharing your work. I too would like very much to have copies of your diagrams if it isn’t too much trouble. I’m currently doing some work on storytelling in Taiwan.
Many thanks,
Paul
my email is: paulrosevere@gmail.com
Hello Everyone,
Thank you all for your interest in my storytelling work. I’ve had several requests for the diagrams, so rather than email each of you, I thought I’d just post a link to a Powerpoint presentation of storytelling models that may prove useful in your thinking on storytelling (http://ils.unc.edu/~sturm/storytelling/storymodels.ppt).
The models don’t come with explanations in this format, but you can find an overview of the Storylistening Trance model (one of the ones I reference in the video, including a description) at:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/542104?seq=1.
The Storylistening Experience model (which covers the entire storylistening experience, not just the trance-like moment) is explained and modeled here:
http://ils.unc.edu/~sturm/storytelling/storyexperience.pdf
Please let me know if you have questions or comments on these ideas/models, as I am always open to suggestions for changing them.
Cheers,
Brian