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Image: Up, Pixar, 2009
Image: Up, Pixar, 2009
Founder/Filmmaker/Creative Director, Untold Storytelling
'For millennia, we’ve been wired to share information through stories.
'For millennia, we’ve been wired to share information through stories.
Before the written word, stories were how humans verbally passed down,
Before the written word, stories were how humans verbally passed down,
and remembered,
and remembered,
critical information.
critical information.
Throughout history, as we gained new mediums, and established more efficient societies that afforded us recreational time, we expanded storytelling from survival to knowledge to entertainment.
Throughout history, as we gained new mediums, and established more efficient societies that afforded us recreational time, we expanded storytelling from survival to knowledge to entertainment.
Stories are important to us all.
Stories are important to us all.
Who hasn’t exhausted their Netflix account searching for unique and memorable stories?
Who hasn’t exhausted their Netflix account searching for unique and memorable stories?
Memorable, unique stories are hard to come by, aren't they?
Memorable, unique stories are hard to come by, aren't they?
As a result, we value them highly.
As a result, we value them highly.
Task 1:
Task 1:
Make a list of as many examples of storytelling that you can recall, that have featured in your life, and state their purpose.
Make a list of as many examples of storytelling that you can recall, that have featured in your life, and state their purpose.
3 Mins then Discuss
3 Mins then Discuss
"Our brains are always searching for meaning.
"Our brains are always searching for meaning.
Red - Fox - Balloon.
Red - Fox - Balloon.
I [BD] just gave you three random words, and already, I would bet that your brain is scrambling to create a narrative that makes sense of it all.
I [BD] just gave you three random words, and already, I would bet that your brain is scrambling to create a narrative that makes sense of it all.
One of the remarkable things about the human brain is the ability to recognise patterns.
One of the remarkable things about the human brain is the ability to recognise patterns.
Stories, being a predictable pattern of a beginning, middle, and end, are extremely influential and engaging to us.'
Stories, being a predictable pattern of a beginning, middle, and end, are extremely influential and engaging to us.'
[PM]
[PM]
But,
But,
what stories are built out of,
what stories are built out of,
however they are conveyed,
however they are conveyed,
are SYMBOLS.
are SYMBOLS.
Symbols are either described verbally, or as text to be read -
Symbols are either described verbally, or as text to be read -
for example,
for example,
The Red Fox Plays with the Red Balloon, or...
The Red Fox Plays with the Red Balloon, or...
...as a series of image elements.
...as a series of image elements.
[PM] And, Dragomir has only scratched the surface here.
[PM] And, Dragomir has only scratched the surface here.
In a STORY each beginning, middle and end is made up of separate SCENES, that form a pattern.
In a STORY each beginning, middle and end is made up of separate SCENES, that form a pattern.
Each moment of every scene places an array of SYMBOLS/SIGNIFIERS/CLUES that form patterns,
Each moment of every scene places an array of SYMBOLS/SIGNIFIERS/CLUES that form patterns,
or relationships to each other,
or relationships to each other,
to give each element a CONTEXT, usually through JUXTAPOSITION (placing one thing next to another).
to give each element a CONTEXT, usually through JUXTAPOSITION (placing one thing next to another).
And together they (hopefully) form and communicate a MEANING.
And together they (hopefully) form and communicate a MEANING.
Task 2:
Task 2:
We are going to watch the first 10 minutes of the Pixar animation Up to consider how SYMBOLS/SIGNIFIERS/CLUES are laid out for us, so that, even without dialogue,
We are going to watch the first 10 minutes of the Pixar animation Up to consider how SYMBOLS/SIGNIFIERS/CLUES are laid out for us, so that, even without dialogue,
we not only understand a narrative/story,
we not only understand a narrative/story,
but we can be emotionally connected to it.
but we can be emotionally connected to it.
We will watch it twice.
We will watch it twice.
First time just watch and enjoy it.
First time just watch and enjoy it.
Second time, please make a note of as many signifiers as you can, and what they convey.
Second time, please make a note of as many signifiers as you can, and what they convey.
Having watched how the symbols/signifiers/clues work on the screen,
Having watched how the symbols/signifiers/clues work on the screen,
let's look at how they appear in the script that initiated the film.
let's look at how they appear in the script that initiated the film.
To summarise thus far:
To summarise thus far:
To effectively communicate a story
To effectively communicate a story
you need to identify in each moment of the narrative
you need to identify in each moment of the narrative
every symbol/signifier/clue
every symbol/signifier/clue
and arrange them in a pattern
and arrange them in a pattern
that will enable your reader/audience to connect one signifier to the next,
that will enable your reader/audience to connect one signifier to the next,
so that they can form an understanding of what you are attempting to convey.
so that they can form an understanding of what you are attempting to convey.
But this is more than just plotting, step by step, "this happened, then this happened" - it's not a map...
But this is more than just plotting, step by step, "this happened, then this happened" - it's not a map...
You are attempting to generate an
You are attempting to generate an
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE
in your audience/reader.
in your audience/reader.
So, back to our relationship to STORYTELLING....
So, back to our relationship to STORYTELLING....
In a series of tests using videos, Zak's laboratory discovered that
In a series of tests using videos, Zak's laboratory discovered that
compelling narratives cause oxytocin release
compelling narratives cause oxytocin release
and have the power to affect our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
and have the power to affect our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
Zak relates how he came to undertake these tests...
Zak relates how he came to undertake these tests...
"During a night flight home to California... I decided to watch Million Dollar Baby. I hadn’t seen it.
"During a night flight home to California... I decided to watch Million Dollar Baby. I hadn’t seen it.
'It is a wonderful film, and I became deeply absorbed in it.
'It is a wonderful film, and I became deeply absorbed in it.
The narrative is circumscribed by a father-daughter story and concludes with an agonizing act.
The narrative is circumscribed by a father-daughter story and concludes with an agonizing act.
'When the movie was over, the man next to me said,
'When the movie was over, the man next to me said,
“Sir, is there something I can do to help you?”
“Sir, is there something I can do to help you?”
I was crying.
I was crying.
Well, not really crying, more like heaving big sloppy sobs out of my eyes and nose and mouth.
Well, not really crying, more like heaving big sloppy sobs out of my eyes and nose and mouth.
Everyone around could hear me but I could not suppress my sadness.
Everyone around could hear me but I could not suppress my sadness.
After I recovered, I began to wonder what had happened to me.
After I recovered, I began to wonder what had happened to me.
I was cognitively intact, aware of my surroundings and who I was.
I was cognitively intact, aware of my surroundings and who I was.
And yet the story was so engaging that it caused my brain to react as if ... one of my own daughters were the one suffering.
And yet the story was so engaging that it caused my brain to react as if ... one of my own daughters were the one suffering.
I experienced heartache as the movie ended, but then it was only a story.
I experienced heartache as the movie ended, but then it was only a story.
As a neuroscientist, I knew that movies changed our brain activity in some way, but how?
As a neuroscientist, I knew that movies changed our brain activity in some way, but how?
In our first study of narratives, we took blood before and after participants watched one of .. two versions of a video. We found that the narrative with the dramatic arc caused an increase in cortisol and oxytocin.
In our first study of narratives, we took blood before and after participants watched one of .. two versions of a video. We found that the narrative with the dramatic arc caused an increase in cortisol and oxytocin.
Tellingly, the change in oxytocin had a positive correlation with participants’ feeling of empathy.
Tellingly, the change in oxytocin had a positive correlation with participants’ feeling of empathy.
These findings suggest that emotionally engaging narratives inspire post-narrative actions.'
These findings suggest that emotionally engaging narratives inspire post-narrative actions.'
NOTE:
NOTE:
'Cathy Come Home', directed by Ken Loach, broadcast in 1966, to raise awareness of the plight of unmarried, homeless families - the day following its broadcast, questions were raised in the Houses of Parliament, and laws were changed:
'Cathy Come Home', directed by Ken Loach, broadcast in 1966, to raise awareness of the plight of unmarried, homeless families - the day following its broadcast, questions were raised in the Houses of Parliament, and laws were changed:
Post-Narrative Action.
Post-Narrative Action.
Theorists including Aristotle (Poetics, 335 BCE)... and Joseph Campbell (The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 1949) have contended that the rising and falling tension of dramatic performances facilitate the audience’s emotional connection to the characters....
Theorists including Aristotle (Poetics, 335 BCE)... and Joseph Campbell (The Hero with a Thousand Faces, 1949) have contended that the rising and falling tension of dramatic performances facilitate the audience’s emotional connection to the characters....
Psycholinguists have shown that effective stories induce “transportation” into the narrative.
Psycholinguists have shown that effective stories induce “transportation” into the narrative.
Transportation happens when one loses oneself in the flow of the story—just like (Zak) did while watching Million Dollar Baby.
Transportation happens when one loses oneself in the flow of the story—just like (Zak) did while watching Million Dollar Baby.
The U.S. Department of Defense’s funding of the emerging science of narrative, jump-started the field.'...
The U.S. Department of Defense’s funding of the emerging science of narrative, jump-started the field.'...
What the?
What the?
Let's repeat what Zak has just said:
Let's repeat what Zak has just said:
'The U.S. Department of Defense’s funding
'The U.S. Department of Defense’s funding
of the emerging science of narrative...'
of the emerging science of narrative...'
Many people, including The New Yorker magazine, asked the question -
Many people, including The New Yorker magazine, asked the question -
“I’m truly puzzled by [thier] interest in storytelling,” she replied. “Last I heard they were working on making robots that could move around easily in sand. I guess this may have something to do with the rise of the conspiracy blogosphere* and its power over otherwise rational minds. But that’s just a guess.”
“I’m truly puzzled by [thier] interest in storytelling,” she replied. “Last I heard they were working on making robots that could move around easily in sand. I guess this may have something to do with the rise of the conspiracy blogosphere* and its power over otherwise rational minds. But that’s just a guess.”
*Social Media
When you consider some of the statements already mentioned above:
When you consider some of the statements already mentioned above:
'For millennia, we’ve been wired to share information through stories. '
'For millennia, we’ve been wired to share information through stories. '
'...narratives... affect our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.'
'...narratives... affect our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.'
'Narratives...involve us emotionally...move us to action.'
'Narratives...involve us emotionally...move us to action.'
In light of recent events in the UK and worldwide, where individuals and organisations have used social media to manipulate society through Fake News, this highlights how powerful and important Storytelling is,
In light of recent events in the UK and worldwide, where individuals and organisations have used social media to manipulate society through Fake News, this highlights how powerful and important Storytelling is,
to us as Media Producers across all platforms,
to us as Media Producers across all platforms,
and to each of us as 'the audience',
and to each of us as 'the audience',
because it can be, and throughout history has been, used to CONTROL us.
because it can be, and throughout history has been, used to CONTROL us.
We call this response to a story, Post-Narrative Action...
We call this response to a story, Post-Narrative Action...
Be it this emotional response -
Be it this emotional response -
this emotional response -
this emotional response -
...Or this emotional response -
...Or this emotional response -
So to summarise -
So to summarise -
We are 'hard-wired' to find and make meaning out of patterns.
We are 'hard-wired' to find and make meaning out of patterns.
We are 'hard-wired' to tell and receive 'stories' (narratives).
We are 'hard-wired' to tell and receive 'stories' (narratives).
We are 'hard-wired' to emotionally engage with narratives, and to act in response to them.
We are 'hard-wired' to emotionally engage with narratives, and to act in response to them.
Our desire for emotionally engaging narratives can generate vast amounts of money for advertisers and corporations (Hollywood, Netflix, Newspapers, etc)
Our desire for emotionally engaging narratives can generate vast amounts of money for advertisers and corporations (Hollywood, Netflix, Newspapers, etc)
The manipulation of our emotions through constructed narratives can provoke us to actions that benefit corporations/politicians/charities.
The manipulation of our emotions through constructed narratives can provoke us to actions that benefit corporations/politicians/charities.
The point of this introduction is to emphasise that -
The point of this introduction is to emphasise that -
Telling stories is the fundamental point of your career in MEDIA
Telling stories is the fundamental point of your career in MEDIA
(of any kind).
(of any kind).
Storytelling has always been a powerful skill, mostly used to entertain, inform and help us to bond.
Storytelling has always been a powerful skill, mostly used to entertain, inform and help us to bond.
But throughout history, and increasingly so since the development online of social media, it has been 'weaponised' against populations (see Clickbait definition) to generate wealth and power for a few corporations and politicians.
But throughout history, and increasingly so since the development online of social media, it has been 'weaponised' against populations (see Clickbait definition) to generate wealth and power for a few corporations and politicians.
So your place as an audience,
So your place as an audience,
and now as a creator,
and now as a creator,
is one of great responsibility,
is one of great responsibility,
because once heard, read, seen, shared or experienced,
because once heard, read, seen, shared or experienced,
people can't 'unsee' what they are 'fed'.
people can't 'unsee' what they are 'fed'.
"...corrections only reduced the repeating of ... misinformation by, at most, half,
"...corrections only reduced the repeating of ... misinformation by, at most, half,
and in some studies
and in some studies
not at all
not at all
!
!
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