by Calvin Robinson

Created on: May 04, 2008

Before written history, stories were a vital link to the past. The stories handed down from parents to children and so forth were important in keeping the cultural history alive. I think it is true that those who are not aware of history are doomed to repeat it. A well told story from the past can teach important points to future generations if it is told with passion, respect, and from a perspective of personal experience. Storytelling can still be an important part of our culture by providing communication at the basic level of our culture, the family.

I have noticed there is a basic human need for entertainment. That can come from fictional accounts of some sort in the form of books, plays or other media. Actually, these same non-fictional forms of communication are just as entertaining. Story telling can well cover fiction or non-fiction and if told properly can impact an audience at a level other media struggle to achieve. Have you ever noticed how Television has sort of taken over as the preferred form of communication and entertainment in our culture? From time to time I have been observant of situations where the television form of media entertainment was not available for some reason. It seems there is an initial period of irritability while people adjust, but in no time story telling always seems to emerge in one form or another to fill this void of basic human need.

I often go camping with friends and, of course, someone always seems to bring a television or a radio. The remote nature of camping usually means the vast array of cable television is not available and interest in the television seems limited to news and weather. The remarkable thing I have noticed is the children start actually playing together and during the rest breaks they tell each other stories. Those stories may not be elaborate, but they are the humble beginnings of what master story tellers do so well. During the evenings, around the campfire, the children love to sit around and listen to the adults tell stories about the past and funny experiences. I sometimes like to tell made up stories just to the children and they sit listening until the end. They always beg, "tell us another one"! I have told the same stories over and over at one camping trip then the other but the children listen as if it is the first time. They even correct me when I get the story a little wrong or leave out a part. It seems the mass audience tends to help keep the story true in its telling.

When the electricity

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