Magic Lantern
Monday, April 11, 2016
Philosophy of Storytelling: Stories are like scars
When I was 7 years old, I accidentally sliced my finger open with a potato peeler. I have a scar on the third finger of my left hand that reminds me of that incident every day. It reminds me of the pain I felt in that moment, but it also reminds me of my aunt’s delicious mashed potatoes, the warmth of the holidays, and my mother laboring in the kitchen to make a savory turkey dinner.
Every story leaves a scar. Whether it’s the scar on my finger or the memory in my heart, a story leaves its mark and that mark has a purpose. Its purpose is to teach us, remind us, encourage us, and show us who we are.
When I was 15 years old, my pointe shoes destroyed my childlike feet. Callouses, blisters, and bruises formed from the intense wear and tear I endured during dance. I have a scar on the heel of my foot reminding me of those painful, yet incredible years. The scar reminds me of the hard work and passion I poured into dance; it reminds me of the many years that I spent expressing myself through the beautiful art of ballet.
I cherish these scars, not only because they tell my story, but also because they define me. Without my battered feet, or my childhood experiences, I would not be the person I am today. Although scars are associated with a negative connotation, they often illuminate and expose the positive. With every bump, scrape, bruise, and cut, we heal and form a different mindset, we become a new person from the incidents in our lives. Through these scars, we remind ourselves of our stories, which allow us to grow and learn. We look to stories to search for answers, to figure out what happened, why, how, where. We look to stories to remind us of the moments in life that we enjoyed, cried, screamed, and laughed. Without these stories, and without these scars, storytelling would not be possible.
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I absolutely love how you have put this for your philosophy. The idea of stories being like scars- either physical ones that you can look at and remember, or emotional ones. I also liked what you said about the idea of a scar not necessarily being a bad thing because it's true- they make you who you are, they tell your story, and they're all a part of your unique, individual experiences. I also liked that you incorporated stories into your philosophy of storytelling- I guess it seems so simple but I didn't think of it and I really like that you did. I think that sharing these scars, or these stories, with people is what makes you vulnerable, but also what makes people get to see you and experience life with you in a whole new way. I feel like I see elements of this philosophy in your piece in that you are sharing one of your scars with us- this scar of feeling like you don't fit in, that you're different somehow. And like you said, even if you don't have a physical scar on your finger to remind you of these experiences, the ones in your memory were enough to make these experiences a part of who you are. And I think sharing that with us is really powerful and something I can definitely relate to and appreciate you for sharing. I wonder if there's a way to incorporate this idea of "scars" into your piece?
ReplyDeleteI like how you're telling a story in your philosophy, and your connection with scars. It really emphasizes the purpose of stories to leave the audience with their message. I'd be careful about making it sound like the purpose of storytelling is to leave the audience emotionally scarred, but I do like the connection. I like where you say you cherish the scars. When I read that I looked at the scars on my arms from dog and bird bites and thought of all the stories I could tell about my pets.
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