LookUP List 2: The StoryTeller within
5 things to do, see, read or listen to that shift your perspective
Welcome to the second LookUP list. A fortnightly opportunity for you to LookUP with 5 things to do, see, read or listen to that shift your perspective.
Storytelling is fundamental to who we are. To how we relate to each other. To how we impact the world around us.
In a world of limited attention, if you want to rally people to your cause, storytelling is more important than ever.
Lots of people believe they are bad storytellers. We don’t believe there is any such thing!
If you want to be a better storyteller, it’s immerse yourself in the foundational truths of storytelling, and the shifting sands of the canvas around you.
To help you along, here are five things which will help you to build your storytelling muscle.
Enjoy!
Listen to….The Moth. Their events are legendary, and their podcasts are fantastic too. Sometimes single stories, sometimes curated compilations. Always unexpected and inspiring!
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7tNdkczIWDwRtjtioDdGGO?si=suLL0G4aSue-OoJtdenxGQ&nd=1
Go see… the story of the shift from impressionism to modernism at the National Gallery in London. The exhibition charts a change in the way that art tells stories, to a style that is non-linear, and unbounded by convention. It’s a story that happened a century ago - but is still resonating now.
Refer to… Dan Harmon’s story cycle. For the last decade, Dan Harmon has been the lead writer on Rick & Morty, and his storytelling combines deep structural exploration with outrageous flights of irreverent imagination. If you want to ingest a decent slice of storytelling in the shortest time, this is a great place to start.
https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/story-structure/dan-harmon-story-circle/
Go deep…into whether AI can tell good stories. Broadly, the answer is ‘yes’. But we are much less likely to be transported or persuaded by a story if we are told it is by an AI. However, watch this space - it’s complex, and ever-changing. An academic analysis by Chu and Liu here.
Be inspired by… Fiat’s Operation No Grey. Perfectly encapsulating contemporary brand storytelling - where provenance, business decision-making, and the digital canvas align to build a genuinely different brand character.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWLX94pzYVk
