How technology changed the art of storytelling, and then brought it back again
How technology changed the art of storytelling and then brought it back again
The power of storytelling was something that brands and publishers used to engage their audiences to entice them to listen or to look. Storytelling became a way to sell something, people love stories. An example of this is Google India “reunion” advert (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHGDN9-oFJE&list=PL-kIBfSqQg3uMx9Z1fOpc7WPw2wDvbhFu) a story about two old friends reuniting after many years due to the India and Pakistan divided.
The epidemic rise of social media helped the rebirth of creative storytelling. In many different ways those who use social media, are in one way or another, mini-publishers. They are individual storytellers. They all have their own audiences, and they all tell different stories but are linked due to them using social media as their chosen storytelling platform/s.
The question is, how did technology bring back storytelling? Well, each social media user is a storyteller if they post content onto their chosen platform. The best examples of the platforms are:
- Facebook: Still Image, Moving Image, Copy
- Instagram: Still Image, Moving Image (You are able to caption the items you post)
- Twitter: Still Image, Moving Image, Copy
- Vine (no longer running): Moving Image
- YouTube: Moving Image
- Snapchat: Still Image, Moving Image
- Tumblr: Still Image, Moving Image, Copy
- LinkedIn: Still Image, Moving Image, Copy
Users can tune in, follow, or subscribe to other storytellers on the different platforms. They are able to view anyone’s story, from anywhere on the planet. These different users from all over the globe tell stories in their own individual way. Whether that is the way they; edit videos, edit photos, the stories they write or the captions that go with their images.
Although many people have an inspired style, they each have their own way of telling their story.
Quite often, charities or foundations are fantastic visual storytellers. Take Charity Water (https://www.instagram.com/charitywater/) for example. They tell the story behind the images, and quite often they are highly emotive stories. Another example of good visual storytelling is the United Nations accounts (https://www.instagram.com/unitednations/) these accounts show the fantastic work they are doing all over the world with visuals.
One of the most popular storytelling methods is video. YouTube takes first prize, with over 1.8 billion people using the site per month. There are many different ways to tell a story through video, but “vlogging” has become an extremely popular method. Furthermore, more cinematic storytelling is still very popular too. For example of cinematic storytelling take a look at Ben Brown and Tim Kellner (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cniqsc9QfDo) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEgYX1fgmGk ), these two have their own individual storytelling styles on their chosen video platform.
The art of storytelling will always be a part of life. From sitting around a fire with friends talking to watching a film in the palm of your hand in the most remote parts of the world. Storytelling will always change and evolve with the times. It’s a very large part of what it is to be human. It’s interesting to see where storytelling has come from and it’s even more interesting to think about where it could go to next…