Publisher’s Note: I’m happy to introduce two guest editors who are working at The Pursuit Studio’s Virtual Internship Program this summer: JAKE SAMIESKE (Hamilton College) and MOLLY SCHILLING (Penn State University). They were given free reign to determine the content themes to research and curate in this issue. As they are both young, white students (I’m a African-Native-English-Irish-Welsh-American of Boomer age), I am encouraged by the themes they choose, and how concerned Jake was about whether and how he could adequately and responsibly make some particular editorial choices. This is addressed more inan interview with Jake & Molly on Youtube (see the embedded video below). I now defer this edition to them! ~Valerie Mich’El
Welcome to the June 2020 issue!
This issue is essentially an intersection between storytelling, Black Lives Matter, COVID-19, education and entertainment by focusing on stories that have been minimized, invisible and undervalued in the past, are struggling to be heard in the present, and are guiding, inspiring and motivating for the future…READ MORE of our Editorial & stories in this issue. ~Molly & Jake
IT’S TIME FOR A ROUND-UP OF CREATOR’S CORNER FOR EASIER ACCESS TO THE CREATIVITY COACHING CONTENT HERE with a brief excerpt and link to each one–in the spirit of “Everything we need for creativity & storytelling success is within our grasp.” Of course it may not be everything we need, however; between Creator’s Corner and the Creativity & Storytelling ‘Zine, there is a hearty helping.
I BEGAN WRITING CREATOR’S CORNER IN AN INFLUENCER, COACHING, INSPIRATIONAL CAPACITY to share original ideas and solutions for you to consider based on my own thoughts and experiences inspired by the curated content in the Creativity & Storytelling ‘Zine.
Lies & Storytelling: Strange Bedfellows in Shades of Gray | Liar! Who hasn’t had to enter into an almost daily relationship with lies in our political climate today as we countdown to choosing our next president of the United States of America (#45) . . .
The Joy Is in the Story Journey (or Mission Impossible) | What really kept me on the edge of my seat wasn’t the mission getting accomplished or the end (though I was happy to get the payoff): it was everything that occurred prior to actually accomplishing it.
Get Up to Speed On Quality Do-It-Yourself Storytelling (On a Low Budget) | In our world in which content is king/queen and we must use vital creativity and storytelling mojo, and provide it in ways that engage, inspire and energize our fellow humans, what can we do to achieve quality . . .
Conflict Has Creative Value, Learn How To Use It | Creative breakthroughs often occur as the result of conflict in many aspects of the human experience. I feel like screaming again because conflict and contrast commands attention. They SHOUT and we. . .
Here Comes Play-Doh | Certainly it’s easy to see that Play-Doh can be used as content to attract and communicate with children in your particular business, project or service, but what about with adults? Many of us are familiar with Play-Doh because . . .
Card Decks and The Mystic or Visionary Persona | Create a card deck as visual content to inform, educate, inspire, attract, promote, aesthetic (purely as art for arts sake ), or for fun and play to help achieve your goal or purpose.
MAY YOU DISCOVER MORE CREATIVE ideas and storytelling support now (and in the future).
Valerie
“Things are only impossible until they’re not.” “Make it so.” ~ Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation
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Valerie Mich’El Oliver explores the art and architecture of creativity and storytelling in imaginative, innovative, playful and award-winning ways. Tisch School of the Arts (New York University) and The Mystery School (Sacred Center for the Healing Arts) graduate. | Imagine, innovate, create, be generous, love this life, and dare to shine.
WHO HASN’T HAD TO ENTER INTO AN ALMOST DAILY RELATIONSHIP WITH LIES IN OUR POLITICAL CLIMATE TODAY as we countdown to choosing our next president of the United States of America (#46).
“HE’S LYING!” “SHE’S LYING!” THE WORDS LIAR AND LYING KEEP BEING BANTERED, TOSSED, HURLED, yelled and spat. My ear distinguishes them in the cacophony of words used by guest panelists on CNN.
SOMETIMES IT’S SPOKEN IN A SUBDUED MANNER BY POLITICAL AND MEDIA WORDSMITHS. FOR SOME REASON when I hear it the child in me starts thinking–well, really singing in my head: “Liar, liar, pants on fire.”
THOSE WHO LIE GET SPANKED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS NOW (OR NOT), but we’ll have to wait until November to learn who receives the final punishment. Unfortunately, lies are often hurtful and harmful; yet, this leads me to share my thoughts and an experience about the relationship between lies and storytelling.
CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION ARE THE BEDROCK OF GREAT LIES, TALL TALES; OTHERWISE KNOWN AS STORYTELLING. In fact, during my childhood, my mother wouldn’t say stop lying to me as much as she would say: “Stop telling stories!” Or perhaps I just want to remember it that way because it’s more palatable to me; and therefore, my recollection is fiction.
IS IT LYING IF I HAVE NO IDEA WHICH STORY IS REAL? If I just can’t remember? Do the best storytellers know the difference? Does it matter? Is there an ethics to storytelling? Depends on the context or situation? Yes. No. Maybe So. So we say.
AS A CHILD, I LEARNED LYING CAN CARRY SOME HARSH REPERCUSSIONS OF THE KARMIC VARIETY. Mom would ask me who took those cookies after she told us (my three siblings) not to touch them. My favorite answer was: “I don’t know.” I don’t know was an invisible entity in our household who did the things to which none of us wanted to admit. I couldn’t resist oatmeal cookies (and I have a pack that I really don’t need right now).
ONE DAY MY MOTHER PUT THE COOKIES HIGH UP IN THE CUPBOARD. AFTER SHE LEFT THE KITCHEN, I moved the step stool over to it, opened the cupboard, and reached behind the iron to get them. I knocked over the hot iron! It slid down my arm. I fell off the stool, and have a long, visible scar on my arm to this day. Storytelling usually doesn’t carry such hurtful results.
I received an A+ from my peers (aka the press) for an expert complete and total fabrication . . .
Convince People of the Nonexistent
MAKE UP A WORD THAT DOESN’T EXIST. CREATE A STORY AROUND THE WORD. GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE CONCERNING IT. Use your co-workers, family or friends as the press. Make it a game. You have 20 minutes to prepare the story you are going to tell which is essentially a lie, not true, unreal.
IT’S NOT QUITE LIKE THE GAME “TO TELL THE TRUTH” WHERE THE AUDIENCE MUST GUESS WHO IS TRUTHFUL. Your audience already knows you’re making it up: but judge whether you excel at telling a story so effectively that it appears believable. You have ten minutes to address the press, and the press has ten minutes to ask you questions.
I CAN’T REMEMBER IF IT WAS MY ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS OR THE ART OF PERSUASION COURSE. IT WAS DURING THE FIRST WEEK of the semester. At the end of 20 minutes, I received an A+ from my peers (aka the press) for an expert complete and total fabrication.
THEY WANTED TO TOUR THE FACILITIES BUILT THROUGH GOVERNMENT and investor partnerships where the serum to preserve jungle eco-systems was created! They fired questions at me like crazy, and I answered every one of them with confidence and ease:
Question: In which jungle in what country did you test the serum? How do you know it works in every jungle in the world?
Answer: We created huge greenhouse facilities here in the U.S. in Arizona, took a sample of every major plant species from each jungle, recreated each environment, we introduced the known variables to-date that serve as threats, and tested the serum for two years.We were meticulous and committed to almost a religious fervor in our efforts since our failure or success impacts our children, our children’s children, who are our future. It would be incredibly monstrous and selfish for us as ancestors not to do everything we can to assure them healthy and safe environments.
Lies may indeed include reality but only as partial components, never pure truth.
LIES CAN BE LITTLE WHITE ONES OR HUGE WHOPPERS. THEY CAN BE USED TO DECEIVE, INJURE, PERSUADE, REFLECT, RE-DIRECT OR PROTECT. THEY ARE FICTION (KNOWN OR UNKNOWN)? Lies may indeed include reality but only as partial components, never pure truth. Stories can be short or epic, and they can be used to hurt, harm or manipulate. Are they used with an intent to deceive as are lies?
STORYTELLING CAN BE 100% FICTION (IMAGINATION) OR MIXED WITH ELEMENTS OF REALITY, or 100% non-fiction (truth, unlike lies) or mixed with elements of imagination (though kept secret in a lie of omission) in a multitude of creative forms that are ever expanding and bursting boundaries.
NOW TO USE all of this in a creative storytelling ways as part of the fabric of the human condition.
“Things are only impossible until they’re not.” “Make it so.” ~ Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation
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Valerie Mich’El Oliver explores the art and architecture of creativity and storytelling in imaginative, innovative, playful and award-winning ways. Tisch School of the Arts (New York University) and The Mystery School (Sacred Center for the Healing Arts) graduate. | Imagine, innovate, create, be generous, love this life, and dare to shine.
Grateful to be sharing this Black History Month Special Edition of Creativity & Storytelling ‘Zine with you; including #TopTen African American Directors of the Decade!
Some of the content featured in this special issue includes:
10 films to watch this Black History Month – Q City Metro “Dear Basketball” lives on as part of Bryant’s legacy as a father, husband, coach, philanthropist and basketball player. Director Ivan Dixon (also an actor in the film) and screenwriter Sam Greenlee…
Blackfilm.com’s Top Ten African American Directors Of The Decade (2010-2019) As a new decade starts, we take a look Black at those directors who in the last ten years had continued to succeed, critically and financially, in making films and uplifting the community to pave the…
The 30+ Best Black Sports Movies Ever Made – ranker.com Black sports movies combine the thrill of competition with athletes’ desire to fight against oppression. The top black sports movies range from completely fictitious comedies to compelling real-life…
This issue is dedicated to my dear aunt Teal (Lucille Turner), who in her youth studied acting with Lee Strasberg in New York City, was proposed to by classmate Al Lewis (Right! Grampa on The Munsters TV show), and was often mistaken for the beautiful actress, Dorothy Dandridge. Rest in peace, Auntie. Read this special issue!
Creativity & Storytelling ‘Zine is a Creator’s Corner publication by The Pursuit Studio featuring creativity, storytelling, innovation, ideas, leadership and influencer content for artists, writers, screenwriters, authors, entrepreneurs, producers, directors, marketers, publicists, coaches, and other professionals in pursuit of creative and storytelling excellence in our fields. Check it out!
Valerie Michele Oliver (The Healing Artist Studio Project) explores the art and architecture of creativity and storytelling in imaginative, innovative, playful and award-winning ways. Tisch School of the Arts (New York University) and The Mystery School (Sacred Center for the Healing Arts) graduate. | Imagine, innovate, create and love this life.
Somewhere along my life’s journey, I received a strong message that stuck in my gut for a very long time: “Do not discuss religion or politics in mixed company (or in any social or business settings) because you are asking for trouble.” I was taught that discussing these topics will create great conflict that will destroy friendships and potentially make me a persona non grata in professional circles that can lead to isolation, and perhaps even dismissal (though that reason would never be cited as the true reason).
Yes, I have seen the damage in other people’s lives; but not in my own.Sure,
conversations have become heated, but I always took the approach that we can agree to disagree because–well, there are so many other things that I often like about people with whom I have a difference of belief or opinion. I learned to value the whole person, and not divorce myself from relationships because of a strong contrast. My oldest friend is a Republican (and always has been). Another dear friend is an atheist.
Perhaps, our relationships would be rather dull and bland without the challenges.
Conflict and Contrast Are Creative Goldmines
As a creative professional and healing artist, I was taught to value conflict and contrast as vital creative tools:contrast in colors, contrast in textures, contrast in lighting, contrast in perspective, contrast in camera angles, contrast in point-of-view, and contrast in characters to create the conflicts necessary for telling an engaging story. Conflict and contrast are CREATIVE tools and principles.
Actually, spirituality and mindfulness is trending (and spiritual practices include religions), and it’s viewed as a creative trend in this and the next decade(see Creator’s Corner on Sacred Geometry); yet, the content in the articles cited that inspired this Creator’s Corner are examples of even more contrast and contradiction. One includes research citing that Millennials are disengaging from religion and spirituality. Another cites that Americans do not believe in God, but somehow believe that Heaven is real. The third article might seem like an oxymoron: it explores the concept and practice of Imaginative Conservatism.
The story of good and evil, of strength and weakness, of love and hate, of beauty and ugliness . . . neither can exist without the other . . .
out of their groupings creativeness is born.
~John Steinbeck
Creative breakthroughs often occur as the result of conflict in many aspects of the human experience. I feel like screaming again because conflict and contrast commands attention. They SHOUT and we all pay attention. The content then engages us for short or long periods of time depending on our interests, desires, emotions, and needs.
2)Share what we discover as part of our content offerings, or use these new allies in content strategy, content marketing, marketing strategy, songwriting, storytelling, or even to become more comfortable in our own psyches and skins with their value to attract, reach, impact and inspire others as creative professionals, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, content curators, coaches, mentors, etc. through the variety of communications and media we use as calling cards and other enduring connection platforms in our careers or missions.
Creator’s Corner is dedicated to sharing ideas that come to mind after reading and selecting articles for The Creativity & Storytelling ‘Zine(as the editor) that may be useful in a professional or personal capacity. Interest in creativity and spirituality as content, for usage in arts & entertainment, and as lifestyle choices for businesses, projects and services (groups that have a way of life that may or may not be included
in their brand identity), can be relevant to anyone anywhere in the world covering a variety of professions.
Valerie Michele Oliver (The Healing Artist Studio Project) explores the art and architecture of creativity and storytelling in imaginative, innovative, playful and award-winning ways. Tisch School of the Arts (New York University) and The Mystery School (Sacred Center for the Healing Arts) graduate. | Imagine, innovate, create and love this life.
Creativity & Storytelling ‘Zine is a Creator’s Corner publication by The Pursuit Studio available weekly featuring creativity, storytelling, innovation, ideas, leadership and influencer content for artists, writers, screenwriters, authors, entrepreneurs, producers, directors, marketers, publicists, coaches, and other professionals in pursuit of creative and storytelling excellence in our fields. Check it out!
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