I have taken many English courses while at university, and I do have an appreciation for good writing whether it be in the form of a poem, short story, or novel. It has been very fulfilling to read many different forms of writing because I think it provides a rich background from which to derive information from. Each new writing piece adds to your schema, and the thoughts that each piece provokes creates new experiences that you may never have experienced before. It opens your world up to new possibilities. I am grateful for all of the poems and short stories I was forced to read in my university level english courses. I think fondly of them and so I have something to compare other writing to. Through reading, I have tried things that I wouldn't necessarily try in my life.Variety is truly the spice of life.
Monday, 30 September 2013
Storytelling Festival
I have attended various events for the 'Ut'loo Noye Khunni : Weaving Words Festival over the years and I have thoroughly enjoyed the events. It was one of the first times that I had connected to a First Nations author and it was very stimulating. I remember sitting in one UNBC's theatre seats, and being in awe of the various author's presence. It did not matter who they were, what their name was, where they came from, I just really respected that they were able to get up in front of the audience and share their stories because the stories were very interesting. They were great role models to me and I wanted to learn from their work.
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I like your comment about the author's presence. I think that's an important part of story telling, and a valuable skill to develop in general... one that we should teach our students! I've never thought about adding that into discussions of public speaking. It could be good to show clips of authors/ story tellers/ poets to analyze that, and maybe figure out how to create it. I wonder if speech arts has techniques for doing that.
ReplyDeleteYes! It was like being in the presence of a celebrity that was performing in front of me in the same room. It made the experience more personal. We read books from authors that we do not meet and the experience is great, but it just adds another level to the experience of prose when the author is there to answer questions about their work and go into an analysis of it. I remember one reading from Richard Van Camp and I remember him telling it so well! He did not read from a book, he told the story from memory. Each time that one tells a story, i believe that it becomes more rich. You can add inflection in your voice at specific moments to achieve a desired response. When the story is your own, you know exactly what type of reaction you wish to produce in the audience. I sat in awe, listening so intently, visualizing what was happening which made the experience so much more exciting and enthralling. I often forget to read more and I know that it will be one of my passions as I grow older. Reading more to stoke my interest in the art of writing and storytelling.
DeleteThese interests - in writing and storytelling - are a wonderful foundation for leading literacy in schools. The drama element comes in with the storytelling - as you mentioned, the polish for timing and effect that comes with retelling. I have a dream for a project called Literacy Lines, in which I collect and write the stories/anecdotes that define people's lives - to capture a more intimate picture of a life than can be done in a story that is simply a chronological telling. I am glad that you have claimed many authors as your own but have a special connection with those you have heard. I wonder if it will have the same effect for students to view video of authors reading. I look at YouTube videos of leadership gurus sometime, and really, some of them should stick to writing! (very boring - lack the dramatic element of fiction, although Stephen Covey was an exception!)
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