Subscribe to my Telegram Channel,
and get new articles first!
and get new articles first!
The history of storytelling in simple words
How the art of storytelling was born and developed through years
Author of the article: Tatiana Zhakova
Journalist, linguist, teacher of storytelling with 10 years of experience
In 2015 she created and promoted her project about Nizhny Novgorod, nnstories.ru, after which she created a course called "Storytelling: How to Tell Your Story" based on it. Over 4,000 students have taken the course.
A linguist by education, she quickly masters new areas. Now she is actively studying screenwriting and storytelling in movies/serials, and writes about it in her project's blog.
A linguist by education, she quickly masters new areas. Now she is actively studying screenwriting and storytelling in movies/serials, and writes about it in her project's blog.
The History of Storytelling: From Cave Drawings to the Digital Age
Ever since humans appeared on Earth, they began to tell stories. Stories about life, about death, about love and adventure. This was necessary to pass on knowledge and experience from one generation to the next. As soon as the first people began to draw on the walls of caves, stories became an integral part of human culture.
The earliest sources of stories are oral histories that were passed down from generation to generation. In various cultures there were stories that were transmitted orally only, without being written down. Some of these stories have come down to us almost unchanged, while others have changed greatly over time.
With the development of writing came new ways of preserving stories. In ancient Egypt, for example, scribes wrote stories on papyrus about the lives of pharaohs, gods, and heroes. In ancient Greece there were epic poems that were transmitted orally but were also written down and have survived to this day.
With the development of writing came new ways of preserving stories. In ancient Egypt, for example, scribes wrote stories on papyrus about the lives of pharaohs, gods, and heroes. In ancient Greece there were epic poems that were transmitted orally but were also written down and have survived to this day.
During the Middle Ages, stories began to be written in books, which became available to the general public. Novels, novels, and other works of literature were created in which the main element was the story. Along with books came other ways of communicating stories, such as theater and film.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, storytelling was a popular form of entertainment and knowledge transmission across cultures and societies. In these centuries, stories were told orally, in books, on the theater stage, and in various other forms of art.
In Europe in the 17th century there were storytellers who collected stories and told them at fairs and in town squares. One of the most famous storytellers of the time, Charles Perrault, collected many fairy tales and wrote them in his book, The Tales of Mother Goose, which became one of the most famous collections of fairy tales in the world.
In Europe in the 17th century there were storytellers who collected stories and told them at fairs and in town squares. One of the most famous storytellers of the time, Charles Perrault, collected many fairy tales and wrote them in his book, The Tales of Mother Goose, which became one of the most famous collections of fairy tales in the world.
Travel and adventure stories were popular in the United States in the 18th century. Robinson Crusoe, for example, was one of the most famous novels of the time, which told the story of survival on a desert island. Also during this period, books about the lives of pirates and bandits appeared and were very popular.
In the 19th century, storytelling became an even more important part of literature and culture. Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens, and Alexandre Dumas became famous authors whose works contained vivid stories and were known throughout the world. Love novels also appeared during this period and became extremely popular among women. In Russia, ballads such as "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" were widely told and passed down orally from generation to generation. In Africa and South America there were also traditions of oral storytelling, which are still living and developing today.
In the 20th century, storytelling continued to evolve and take new forms. This was due to the proliferation of cinema, radio, and television, which became the primary means of mass communication and entertainment.
Films became an important way to tell stories, convey culture and ideas, and entertain mass audiences. And filmmakers became the new storytellers.
Films became an important way to tell stories, convey culture and ideas, and entertain mass audiences. And filmmakers became the new storytellers.
In the 1920s, radio stations emerged as a new medium for information and entertainment. Children listened to various stories and tales on radio shows with storytelling. These shows used sound effects to create atmosphere and give listeners a chance to imagine themselves in the story.
In the mid-20th century, television became a new form of entertainment and communication. TV shows with storytelling, such as "The Twilight Zone" and "The Outer Limits," became popular, and presented fantastic stories that made viewers think and worry. Television series also became hugely popular, and their stories became more complex and emotionally intense.
The 1960s saw the emergence of stand-up comedy performances at live shows. At this time, artists like Dylan Thomas and Stuart McLintire took off, performing on stage and telling stories. These performances became an important part of English-speaking culture.
In the mid-20th century, television became a new form of entertainment and communication. TV shows with storytelling, such as "The Twilight Zone" and "The Outer Limits," became popular, and presented fantastic stories that made viewers think and worry. Television series also became hugely popular, and their stories became more complex and emotionally intense.
The 1960s saw the emergence of stand-up comedy performances at live shows. At this time, artists like Dylan Thomas and Stuart McLintire took off, performing on stage and telling stories. These performances became an important part of English-speaking culture.
With advances in technology and the advent of the Internet, stories have become accessible to a wide audience around the world. Social networking sites, blogs, podcasts and video blogs have become the new medium of storytelling. Now anyone can tell their story and share it with millions of people around the globe.
