In message <af780ea1401a14fdd77e3a7848eae8b2.47334@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
Joe Platt <jd_platt@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> writes
>"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.
Yes, I can see that hearing the audio form, even done word-for-for would
greatly ease the transition to a learned (the framework, not the precise
words) and told tale.
>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)
I read a lot of comics, so, not surprisingly you can guess I like quite
a few current ones - though each for their own reasons. Most of the good
ones rely on the interplay of image with words - if they didn't then why
a comic rather than a short story or a straight painting. For the
purposes of solid stories (as opposed to simpler joys) the Vertigo Line
from DC is often a good source - which grew out of the comics you
mention. Lucifer, for instance is of a high quality, and Fables is
specifically about messing around with Fairy Tales in the modern world.
>
>(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.
I can sympathise!
>> >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.
I forgot to mention the obvious source for such - A Dictionary of
British Folk Tales by Katharine M. Briggs (Parts A & B) - these are the
versions as collected so some parts clearly need working up to tell.
>> 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.)
Well, just an original Grimms Household Tales, that ought to be a great
thick thing, with many tales you'll never have heard of if you haven't
delved in this area should be easy to come by - its out of copyright, so
reprinted a lot.
>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.
Well, apart from when shock (or amusing bawdyness) is the point of the
tale of course. However, the original tales generally just have more
"bite" than the bowdlerised Victorian versions - they just seem more
plausible.
>I'm particuarly interested in finding stories from non-european
>cultures, including Arab, Indian and Chinese mythology.
The Mardrus & Mathers translated version of The Thousand and One Nights
is the version I use - four chunky volumes of close spaced type are the
first hint you've got a complete set of tales. Some of the material can
get a little repetitive or trite in the full set, but that's a small
price to pay. With the full set you can see Shahrazad's story plan
unfold - leading the King from anger to understanding. It's also
claimed, and I can see why, that you tell where Shahrazad was giving
birth to children - each night in certain areas of the complete tales is
very thin indeed.
I've only casually tried Richard Burton's translation and wasn't so
convinced - the M&M version I read from cover to cover, and have
repeatedly mined.
> Some of the
>Native American stories are interesting but it's a bit too new age for
>my taste.
Go for faithful versions, not versions with interpretations. Richard
Erdoes & Alfonso Ortiz "American Indian Myths and Legends" is a solid
set of tales, for instance.
Penguin's assorted collections of folktales are generally pretty good.
>
>(snip)
>
>>
>> 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
The events section is a little *cough* ramshackle at the moment but try
the Society for Storytelling Website.
http://www.sfs.org.uk
That, or actually join the society and get on the e-mail bulletin list
for many more event details.
Both of these are currently my fault as webmaster or editor (or my gift
to UK tellers, if you like them).
>
>(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.
It's entirely possible. You hinted you go to Oxford from time to time -
they certainly have good tellers perform there.
--
Kevin Blackburn SfS@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Society for Storytelling website is at http://www.sfs.org.uk
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