Back in '99 I completed a masters in Creative Arts and Learning at Lesley University. For my final project I wrote a paper that started me in the direction of researching a more accurate definition of 'multimedia storytelling.' To date, most people would assume you're talking about a techno-form of storytelling. I'm interested in that but I'm also interested in the intersections of all forms of storytelling; how one informs the other and which forms can borrow elements from which(portability).
What prompted me out of bed at 12:30a was the realization that I've experienced storytelling in many forms. I've studied with master oral storytellers Doug Lipman and Jay O'Callahan. I've taken half a dozen writing workshops in fiction and memoir. I've acted on stage and performed in an improv troupe. I've learned digital storytelling from Joe Lambert and the folks at the Center for Digital Storytelling. I've created a few documentary films(mostly education stuff) but I know a bit about film. I read voraciously, okay intermittantly, but I read everything from comic books to culture jamming. And then there's video games. I've experienced great stories in the many hours I've invested into gaming. But the most influential story experience has to be the ten years I've spent as a teacher. Some may not see teaching as storytelling, but for me that's what I was doing when I was in front of my students. And here I am at Georgia Tech, trying to figure out a way to combine technology and storytelling so that I can go back to the classroom and be a more effective teacher.
There's still that phD cloud over my head, but I'll figure that out later I guess. It would be nice to get the phD while I'm working out the details of this multimedia storytelling approach. Once again, I feel like I just got too many research interests. What about the A Place at the Table story tool? How's that going to get anywhere if I'm trying to also figure this new approach to teaching with technology? There's got to be a way to utilize the profs here in my program. Their names come up in a lot of papers I've been reading on-line. It's kind of odd to be taking classes with these profs and not really know their research.
I've got to work on my pitch.
Uh, prof X, can you help me figure out how to combine my varied story experience to develop a more authentic instance of 'multimedia storytelling'? They've got their own research interests. It's all about selling your idea. You could have the most innovative idea but if it doesn't jive with the research of the profs, you're on your own. And that's the island I feel trapped on. I want to do an independent study next semester, but don't know who to ask. (cue 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow")
