How has the future of storytelling been influenced by Twitter?
We might have fewer characters to work with, but we still hunger for narrative. New mediums aren’t destroying fiction, they’re allowing us to innovate even more in how we create and consume our stories.
Every five days, a billion tiny stories are generated by people around the world. Those messages aren’t just being lost in the ether, like the imaginary output of monkeys randomly attempting to produce the works of Shakespeare. Instead, the tweets are being archived by the Library of Congress as part of the organization’s mission to tell the story of America. The archive now includes 170 billion posts and counting.
The patterns of human life will be stored in this Twitter archive like a form of digital sediment. Every meme and revelation will leave an imprint in the record constructed of posts by half a billion Twitter users around the world (and over 150,000 more signing up every day).
How has the future of storytelling been influenced by Twitter?
SPARKING THE IMAGINATION
Writer and actor John Hodgman recalls how derisive many people were about Twitter when it first entered the public consciousness. “Many jokes were made,” he said, “about ‘why would I ever want to hear about what sandwich someone ate today?’”
“The early detractors failed to note is that Twitter, while faddish, was not only a fad: it is a tool, one with almost as many unique uses as there are humans to take it up,” Hodgman says. “Twitter offered a very restrictive set of protocols that awaken the imagination: what can I do with 140 characters that will be meaningful to others? The solution has proven to be pretty much endless. And do you know what? If the right person is telling the story, I’ll read a tweet stream of sandwiches all day long.”
We’ve gotten to know new characters through Twitter, Hodgman says, from Bigfoot to God, and their tweet streams are “more than just jokes, which themselves are the shortest stories of all.” Instead, tweets are “a new kind of epistolary–postcards from a sensibility that over time, describe whole worlds.”
“It is true,” Hodgman says, “that this kind of storytelling is quick, even ephemeral, and largely improvised. It’s really more like broadcasting than writing, and one of the things that makes Twitter so intimate, even in its rowdy, buzzing, crowd-y-ness, is that you are reading someone’s work in real time.”
The Latest Bing News on:
Storytelling
- Shelf Life: Tales from the Trails: Wilderness storytelling at Missoula Public Libraryon May 11, 2024 at 6:30 am
Afterschool meals are available at Missoula Public Library! MPL will serve meals to kiddos 18 and under, courtesy of the Missoula Food Bank & Community Center, every Friday in the Imaginarium on Level ...
- Chinatown Storytelling Centre fosters community belongingon May 11, 2024 at 5:00 am
Vancouver’s Chinese Canadians have so many stories to tell—and the Chinatown Storytelling Centre wants to help share them. Ramona Mar, content and programming curator for the centre, points to a few ...
- Survivors empowered through art and storytelling by FHSU interdisciplinary teamon May 11, 2024 at 2:30 am
An interdisciplinary team presented their pilot project research at ResilienceCon in Nashville, Tenn., April 14-17. The project was funded through FHSU’s Undergraduate Research Experience and ...
- Disney's Magic of Storytelling helps deliver boxes of books to Brooklyn Book Bodegaon May 11, 2024 at 1:33 am
Disney has donated millions of books to First Book, an organization that helps get books and other resources to educators.
- What’s Your Story? The Evolution of Brand Storytelling and How to Leverage It With Your Own Businesson May 10, 2024 at 5:11 pm
This evolution has enabled brands to create lasting relationships with their customers, turning casual buyers into loyal advocates. Let’s explore how brand storytelling has changed, highlighting key ...
- Gwinn students showcase intergenerational storytelling projectson May 10, 2024 at 4:58 pm
Fifth grade students from Gilbert Elementary School in Gwinn capped off a schoolyear-long project on Friday, presenting video interviews they recorded with longtime residents of Gwinn about their ...
- Storytelling Caravan transports students at Holston View Elementaryon May 10, 2024 at 9:12 am
Students at Holston View Elementary School in Bristol, Tennessee heard stories from volunteers across campus. The Storytelling Caravan returned for its third year at the school with parents, community ...
- Storytelling Caravan wows young Bristol studentson May 10, 2024 at 9:10 am
Jenna Lafever with the Plant Palace in Erwin stopped by First at Four Thursday to show us how to make an arrangement for Mom. But if you don't want to make your own and would rather purchase an ...
- Ricky Martin Talks Powerful ‘Palm Royale' Finale & His Love For Storytellingon May 10, 2024 at 6:37 am
"I felt a level of freedom I had never felt with any of my past characters," Martin says about portraying Robert Diaz in the comedy series.
- On Eve Of Her First TV Awards, New BAFTA Chair Sara Putt Talks "Celebrating The Power Of Storytelling" During "Grim" Times & The Industry's Collective Battle To Combat Bullying ...on May 9, 2024 at 1:00 am
EXCLUSIVE: This Sunday’s BAFTA TV Awards will “celebrate and remember the power of storytelling” at a “challenging” time for the industry, according to the new chair of the 77-year-old body. Speaking ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Storytelling
[google_news title=”” keyword=”storytelling” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Future Of Storytelling
- Chinatown Storytelling Centre fosters community belongingon May 11, 2024 at 5:00 am
Vancouver’s Chinese Canadians have so many stories to tell—and the Chinatown Storytelling Centre wants to help share them. Ramona Mar, content and programming curator for the centre, points to a few ...
- Survivors empowered through art and storytelling by FHSU interdisciplinary teamon May 11, 2024 at 2:30 am
An interdisciplinary team presented their pilot project research at ResilienceCon in Nashville, Tenn., April 14-17. The project was funded through FHSU’s Undergraduate Research Experience and ...
- Disney's Magic of Storytelling helps deliver boxes of books to Brooklyn Book Bodegaon May 10, 2024 at 8:34 pm
Disney has donated millions of books to First Book, an organization that helps get books and other resources to educators.
- What’s Your Story? The Evolution of Brand Storytelling and How to Leverage It With Your Own Businesson May 10, 2024 at 5:11 pm
This evolution has enabled brands to create lasting relationships with their customers, turning casual buyers into loyal advocates. Let’s explore how brand storytelling has changed, highlighting key ...
- NEW: Envisioning the Future of Child Care: New Round of Reporting Grants Now Available!on May 10, 2024 at 10:04 am
The Better Life Lab at New America invites reporters and writers to apply for child care reporting grants.
- Magic of Storytelling | Star Wars: Escape From Darth Vaderon May 9, 2024 at 6:56 am
Princess Leia is captured by the Empire. As Darth Vader tries to extract information about the Rebel Alliance, R2D2 and C3PO attempt a daring escape with the secret plans to destroy the Empire's ...
- Digpal Lanjekar: Technology has revolutionised the cinematic experience, enriching storytelling and expanding the possibilities of visual storytelling - Exclusiveon May 8, 2024 at 1:05 pm
Dive into the enchanting world of historical and mythological filmmaking as we sit down with writer and director Digpal Lanjekar for an exclusive interview. From his passion for delving into timeless ...
- How These Next Generation Filmmakers are Rewriting the Future of Black Storieson May 7, 2024 at 9:09 am
A new wave of filmmakers is rising, armed with unique perspectives and transformative narratives that promise to reshape the landscape of Black cinema. The post How These Next Generation Filmmakers ...
- How WePlay Studios is changing the future of live event storytellingon May 3, 2024 at 5:00 am
Considering esports’ massive fan following, many of whom tune in via dedicated live streams, the pressure to deliver high-end live productions that align with fan expectations is real for companies ...
- How WePlay Studios is Transforming the Future of Live Event Storytellingon May 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm
“Storytelling and technological innovation drive every show we do, and we pride ourselves on creating iconic content that leaves a lasting viewer impression; the VTuber Awards were no exception,” ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Future Of Storytelling
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Future Of Storytelling” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]