"Kevin Blackburn" <SfS@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:7lWydRK$9bf$Ewp$@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> In message <ca0dd0a5c6548782383097923a1407e1.47334@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> Joe Platt <jd_platt@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> writes
> >Hello everybody,
> >
> >
(snip)
I ended up telling a story <Neil Gaimen's Dream of
> >a thousand cats>.
>
> I'll have to return to it, to see whether I could use it as well. I've
> only told a few literary sources, and, umm, probably no comic sources -
> they tend not to be designed for telling, more for reading, and there is
> a difference.
> >
Personally, I've found litery sources to be very valuable. I've also
encountered many books which work well as audio books (It's a long drive
from Oxford to the Hebridies).
Now I accept that an audio book is different from a story told in front
of an audience but there's enough similarity that, combined with the
storytellers freedom to adapt the tale to their particualr medium, that
it can work.
I'm not at all suprised that you don't use comics. The vast majority are
so badly written it's ridiculous but there are a few where the writing
is of a very high standerd. personally I'd recommend Neil Gaimen
(Sandman chronicles )and Alan Moore (Swamp thing)
(snip)
> > Remembering the story, keeping the
> >audience interested, maintaining clarity and above all keeping it
smooth
> >and flowing. For some strange reason it seems a lot easier on radio. I
> >guess not being able to see your audience actually helps :).
>
> Odd, I normally think being able to see your audience prompts to speed
> up if interest is lagging, or draw out a good bit if it seems to be
> winning.
>
I've more expereince broadcasting on radio than I have performing to an
audience and so I think it makes me less nervous.
> >
> >Now that's who I am and what I do, so, why am I here?
(snip)
>> It's well worth reading myths from other cultures, but they will feel
> alien - find a good selection of Native American tales, for instance. I
> do tell a few such, but there's always an odd mood to them.
>
> Oh, and don't forget that there are a scattering of English (or Anglo
> Saxon) tales if you go looking. And all the fine Grimm tales (many of
> which were never designed for children)
>
I'm very interesting in finding the original versions of the Grimm tales
as they are supposed to be far darker and ***ier than the versions we're
used to (I believe in the original sleeping beauty it isn't a kiss that
wakes her. 'Nuff said.)
I've found that with the material I'm contemplating I've got to be
careful that the story isn't being told just for it's shock value.
I'm particuarly interested in finding stories from non-european
cultures, including Arab, Indian and Chinese mythology. Some of the
Native American stories are interesting but it's a bit too new age for
my taste.
(snip)
> I'm not that bad at telling them but what
> >got people hooked were the stories. They liked the fact that the story
> >was directed at them as an adult, and they liked the dark, and
slightly
> >disturbing, nature of some of the stories I picked.
>
> Hmmm, its an interesting path you've taken - and its a testimony to your
> skill that written tales, never designed for telling, work well for you.
> But there are edgy tales, bawdy tales, dark tales, very much aimed at
> adults that are part of various traditions. You have to dig for them
> amongst the bowdlerised forms (probably the dirtiest traditional tale is
> in that *cough* paragon of children's tales the 1001 nights. The kiddies
> never get certain nights! Though perhaps the Finnish tradition might win
> that challenge)
> >
> >Talking to my audience I soon became clear that none of them had heard
> >storytellers telling stories aimed at a mature audience. So, getting to
> >my point at last, I was wondering if anybody out there told similar
> >stories and whether anyones interested in expanding into this area.
It's
> >real fun even if it's never more than a party trick to entertain your
> >freinds.
>
> Ah, come to the Storytelling Festivals (Festival at the Edge, for
> instance) and choose your tellers wisely, and your wishes will be
> answered. For all that, I'd love to hear your style of telling, if only
> for contrast.
>
I'd really like to do that. Do you know a website where I could get
information of events
(snip)
> Listen to a traditional teller, should you ever get the chance, like Cat
> Weatherill - that might change your view.
It sounds like the storytelling culture in England is less traditional
and perhaps more to my taste than that in the Hebridies, which is the
only place I've encountered storytelling.
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