This fascinating article in The Atlantic describes how Andrea Migliano, an anthropologist at University College London, has found evidence that storytelling is a highly valued skill in hunter-gather societies. Studying the Agta, a group of hunter-gatherers from the Philippines, Migliano found that good storytelling was valued more than all other skills, including hunting. According to Migliano, skilled Agra storytellers were more likely to be named as ideal living companions, morel likely to receive gifts, and on average had more children than peers less skilled in storytelling. You can read the full article here.
Although our society does more emailing and texting than hunting and gathering, storytelling skills are still highly valued. From corporate board rooms to podcasts and multimedia websites, storytelling remains our most effective method of communication. Explore NYUSPS CALA courses on storytelling:
What’s Your Story? Building Narrative in Business Writing
Podcast/Radio Reporting and Storytelling
Multimedia Storytelling
Creative Nonfiction Writing
