I have claimed that one of the reasons I enjoy blogging and social media is that we can tell our stories more easily and share in them. This author criticizes social media from a perspective of storytelling. I think she protests too much, but her perspective is worth listening to.
The danger occurs when our stories are rootless. All we need to do is look at the plethora of new social rituals to see the evidence: gender reveal parties, food journaling, push presents, work out diaries and birthday parties for grown-ups. We talk about “personal brand” as if that is a real thing of consequence. These new rituals tell a story, but that story is all about you and your life. All of it is an attempt to ritualize daily life and give it a depth that is not there.
We tell rootless stories when we forget our stories do not begin with us.
"We tell rootless stories when we forget our stories do not begin with us."
Beautifully put, Scott. Ray Bradbury called them 'family wine,' the stories we tell at Thanksgiving and Christmas, the stories we tell over generations, stories that become part of who we are. Real storytelling must not be lost.
Posted by: Nancy Northcutt | May 27, 2012 at 06:15 PM