|
Dr Eric Miller's notes for his presentation on Storytelling in the Panel on Self Discovery through Expressive Arts for Human Resource Development on 17 Feb 2017 at the Annual International Expressive Arts Therapy Conference at Women's Christian College,
Chennai ____________________________________________ Introductory words about working with stories in general
-- *** Options include: 1) Think, feel, visualise, and imagine the story. 2) Write the story. 3) Draw the story. 4) Tell the story (as narrator, and as characters) to one
or more other people. 5) Sing and Chant the story (as narrator, and as
characters), using rhythmical, melodic, and other styles of speaking. 6) Move and Dance the story (as narrator, and as
characters), using postures, gestures, rhythm, and various styles of moving. 7) As a team, act-out the story. *** Storytelling, telling stories, is a particular modality of
behavior and performance; and of sharing and communicating a story. Telling involves primarily the use of one's
body and voice to communicate a story. However, story is used in many of the modalities of
Expressive Arts Therapy. *** In Storytelling, when one speaks as a character, one puts
one's listeners in the position of the character one's character is
addressing. This is a fantasy
role-playing activity. ____________________________________________ Who am I? What do I
love to do? What am I good at? What is my mission? For better understanding one's self, and for increased
awareness of one's self and of the ways in which one likes to contribute:
write, draw, and/or tell the story of one's life (one's life story). What do you love to do?
What are some of your unique interests, skills, and talents? What are you good at? Tell us about the situations in which you first became
aware of these interests. How have you
developed these interests through education and how have you applied them
through work? List 3 possible professions in which you could apply these
talents. Tell us about famous historical figures who were also good
at what you are good at. Who are your heroes in this field? Who do you admire? Who do you look up to? Who do you seek to imitate? Who do you model yourself after? Whose footsteps do you seek to follow? What are some famous instances of the identified
activities and abilities? Give some case
studies. Famous individuals, incidents (situations, opportunities,
discoveries, inventions, advancements in the field, break-throughs, etc). Culture heroes. Who
would you like to meet? Who would you
like to talk to? In one's imagination, one can interact with characters and
objects that are related to what one loves to do. Tell stories about people in your field who have made
important contributions to your field. Tell the stories of what they did. Tell the stories of what they did -- from their points of
view (first-person narration). In your imagination, you could talk with these characters. *** Where would you like to study? At what college? With what professors, scholars, and
authors? Dreams relating to what one loves to do: Actual dreams. Hopes, aspirations, and ambitions. *** What community am I a member of? Where do I fit in? Communities of choice. In what community would I be appreciated? In what community would my talents be
appreciated and useful? *** In an organisation, a team, each member should be in the
right position, in his/her area of talent and ability, to contribute the
optimum amount and to be happy. *** Tell the story of one's Industry. Tell the story of one's Company. Tell the story of one's Department. What has been one of your favorite projects? Why was it a favorite project? What has been one of your least favorite projects? Why was it a least favorite project? What is a dream project of yours? A possible job interview question: How does your Life Story fit with the story
of this Company? How could you contribute
to the Company and be a valuable team member?
Consider the cultural DNA of the company, and your own cultural
DNA. You might tell about shared
values and goals. *** Thought by association.
Gather associated stories and characters. Identify archetypal (typical) occurrences. Gather, collect (remember, research to learn about, and/or
create) 7 or 8 stories that relate to one's unique interests, skills, and
talents. Surround oneself with a collection of stories, characters,
that are variations on a theme (things one loves to do). Including dreams, grandmother stories, and
proverbs. Contextualise one's self.
Discover the context around one's self. One is not alone (avoid senses of isolation and
alienation). One is part of a team effort to combat a challenge,
problem. One does not have to invent the wheel all over again. *** Activate one's imagination -- as well as one's
logical-rational mind -- in relation to who one is and what one loves to do
and wants to do.
|