Jun 3
(The following post is borrowed from my literature blog, LiveWires...)
Ultimately it boils down to Story. Even the poems I've loved are more than just words strung together - they are dense bites of stories. A good song, even if instrumental, will feel as if we have descended into a story. Humans are hardwired for narrative and plot - and it's the verbal storytellers* who have provided us with the richest and most enduring stories, fodder for nearly everything we read today. And before language, I imagine humans described adventures and relationships through movement, vocal tone, beat, and gestures. It's just what we humans do. We tell stories.
There is some good work going on out there right now in regard to story preservation. Hearing Voices collects bits and pieces of stories heard on American public radio in sixty-minute streams of "driveway moments" connected by a weekly theme, with the help of a guest host. StoryCorps Griot is another ongoing initiative, which ensures that the voices, experiences, and life stories of African Americans will be preserved and presented with dignity.
Sit back and take a listen to some stories, here, and for some homework, why not write down or tell a story to someone today. I am sure it will be quite easy to find a willing audience.
Another bit of fun: The Hearing Vocab Lexicon.
*The griot (pronounced gree-oh) in West African tradition is a role of honor, designating someone who maintains community tradition and memory through storytelling, music, and dance.
There is some good work going on out there right now in regard to story preservation. Hearing Voices collects bits and pieces of stories heard on American public radio in sixty-minute streams of "driveway moments" connected by a weekly theme, with the help of a guest host. StoryCorps Griot is another ongoing initiative, which ensures that the voices, experiences, and life stories of African Americans will be preserved and presented with dignity.
Sit back and take a listen to some stories, here, and for some homework, why not write down or tell a story to someone today. I am sure it will be quite easy to find a willing audience.
Another bit of fun: The Hearing Vocab Lexicon.
*The griot (pronounced gree-oh) in West African tradition is a role of honor, designating someone who maintains community tradition and memory through storytelling, music, and dance.
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