Oral Tradition and the Virtual World

[Dale Jarvis]

On Saturday May 17 at 10 AM PDT the Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS), with the collaboration of the New Media Consortium, is hosting a reflection on storytelling in virtual environments in the form of a panel in the online virtual world known as Second Life.

Joe Lambert (Director, Center for Digital Storytelling) and Ana Boa-Ventura (PhD Candidate, University of Texas at Austin) will be moderating, and speakers will be logging in from Newfoundland, Spain, China, New Zealand and the US, and covering areas from folklore to multimedia journalism to virtual performance.

Dale Jarvis, Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Officer for Newfoundland and Labrador, will be one of the presenters, with a talk entitled "Not in my time, and not in your time: Oral Tradition and the Virtual World." The following is the presentation abstract, taken from the conference outline:

Oral storytelling is the art of using language, vocalization, and/or physical movement to reveal the elements and images of a story to a specific, live audience. "Telling" involves direct contact between teller and listener. A central, unique aspect of oral storytelling is its reliance on the audience to develop specific visual imagery and detail to complete and co-create the story in their minds. The teller's role is to prepare and present the necessary language, vocalization, and physicality to communicate the images of a story effectively and efficiently. The challenge, in the 21st century, is to take this most ancient of art forms, and recreate it in virtual settings, where some of the physical intimacy between teller and audience is lost. Storyteller and folklorist Dale Gilbert Jarvis will present some thoughts on virtual storytelling and the impact, and potential, of the digital age on intangible cultural heritage.

The full list of speakers can be downloaded in pdf format. In-world participants can take part in the sessions at the Second Life Campus of the Center for Digital Storytelling.

[Tim E]

How are you going to get you AND Gilbert Sapwood in the same virtual room at the same time? Does Second Life let you morph mid-world?

[Rachel Hedman]

Strange that you should mention "Second Life" as I learned about it for the first time two days ago at the Mountain West Conference on the Arts.

A whole workshop session was dedicated to Second Life technology. I exchanged cards with the presenters and will talk with them more on how storytelling could use this tool.

I was intimidated by the program yet energized by the potential. For example, can you imagine a storytelling festival streaming live some of the performances into this virutal world? Donald Davis or Elizabeth Ellis avatars? Any of us as avatars?

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

[Tim E]

Linden Labs is a local business for me, so I've been reading about it in the newspaper since 2003. But it was only in 2006 that I started imagining live storytelling performances, and that was because of the headlines that Suzanne Vega and Kurt Vonnegut made with their live appearances in Second Life.

That same year, The Boston Phoenix had an in-depth article that still serves as a good introduction. Here's the link.

[Steve Evans]

For several years now I have been familiar with and fascinated by the Center for Digital Storytelling. There are some amazing concepts springing forth from those involved in this movement. The event you mention sounds fascinating, as well. I would love to have you move some of these ideas over into the Applied Storytelling group! : ) Best wishes to you. STEVE