The Art of Storytelling

3 units

As one of the oldest forms of human communication, storytelling is part of both mundane interactions and carefully crafted events. Many of us tell stories regularly in informal settings (e.g., when we tell a friend about an encounter we had in the cafeteria) as well as in professional settings (e.g., class or work presentations). But what, exactly, are the elements of a well-told story? How do we identify powerful storytellers? These questions ground this course, where we will explore stories as forms through which to present oneself and explain an event to others. We will study storytelling from two perspectives. First, we will look at stories through rhetorical analysis: we will focus on various examples of storytelling across different genres (ranging from cultural myths, fables, spoken word, speeches, hip-hop, R&B, and rock lyrics) to understand stories as an artistic practice, a teaching method, an identity shaper, and a conductor of history. Second, we will consider stories through embodied practice: we will perform and present stories in chosen genres to gain firsthand experience in the conventions and forms of the embodiments that complete the act of telling well-crafted stories. At the end of this course, students will have gained theoretical knowledge about storytelling as an art form as well as the practical skills needed to become confident storytellers.