Jay O'callohan: A Master Class In Storytelling

This is an excellent and consistently enthusiastic introduction to the art of storytelling by master storyteller Jay O'Callohan. In an interview with Robert Potts, O'Callohan explores why we tell stories, how we tell them, and the uses of storytelling. This most ancient of arts, O'Callohan argues, is more necessary today than ever before. Not only has the disappearance of former cultural staples such as street criers resulted in genuine losses for the language, but the ubiquitous presence of television has steadily deteriorated the language (not to mention the imagination). Using a traditional tale, "The Story of the Hyena", O'Callohan discusses the different elements that go into the creation of a successful story with engaging characters: rhythm/song, repetition, voice, face ("storytelling is a theatre of the face"), and body. This is an inspirational look at an art form that we desperately need to keep vital--one that promotes human intimacy and emphasizes the natural poetry of language in the oral tradition. Highly recommended. (See HERMAN AND MARGUERITE for availability.)