What Makes World Stories?
Posted by admin on Mar 3, 2009
For as long as humans could talk throughout the world stories have been told and retold. They act as vital threads that weave through the fabric of a culture. They lend definition, roots, and significance to society. As a culture grows, so do its world stories.
I have been blessed by the number of world stories I have found from my travels around the world. I have also had the opportunity to learn a bit about each country. Customs and rituals. Geography and daily habits. In turn, that lends substantial meaning to the world stories I hear. And one of the benefits is to see how world stories come directly from the cultures of origin. My firsthand experience of a given culture heightens my appreciation of their stories. My travels have taken me to Southeast Asia, Central and South America, around the United States, Canada, and Europe. I find myself amazed at both the differences and similarities of the various countries.
All cultures regard certain notions as sacred. You can also find things demonic. Their stories regularly exhibit these notions. They make up the mythical soil out of which the stories grow. Many world stories derive from mythology. Creation stories form the majority of this category, along with other stories help explain the world.
By contrast, folk tales spawn from daily village life. These stories rise out of a rural setting for obvious reasons. Fairy tales also live in the world of folktales. The questioning minds of preliterate villagers found apt expression through stories of magic and mystery. Cautionary tales abound, all of them containing messages to avert disaster. Stay out of the dark forest! Keep away from wild animals! Do not talk to strangers! On the other hand, reward and happy endings comprise many folktales. Good is eternally pitted against evil. One can discover the Golden Rule in most plots. No matter what the genre, a good world story brings meaning to the contemporary world as well. And that brings us to storytelling today. Contemporary society is far removed from rural villages of old, but the old stories still remain pertinent.
Some world stories are downright funny. Other world stories are mysterious. Many world stories are full of insight. Often world stories are enigmatic. Generally world stories contain lessons. All world stories entertain.
No matter what, all world stories maintain a deep bond with the fabric of their culture. The experiences of people are drawn in world stories. And they have merit in worlds far removed from their origin.
To enjoy the breadth of subject matter found in world stories, listen to my CD entitled “World Full of Stories.” It is an award winning recording that will take you on a delightful trip around the world!