Digital Storytelling | Week 7
Soliloquy & Dialog

While watching the Evolution of Storytelling, I became profoundly aware of how the changes that have taken place in media have impacted our understanding of the world. Storytelling through the use of soliloquy in Shakespeare’s plays took stories from a passive intake of declarations to interactive platforms. This was accomplished by simply bringing the audience into the narrative, including them in a change in events or cuing them into details unknown to the other characters.
Defining Dialog, Soliloquy & Monolog at the Intersection of Learning
Dialog is the back and forth that takes place when characters work through a topic, problem or question. Presumably, dialog could also be one sided in certain circumstances, as a narrator poses a question to an audience and then awaits a hypothetical answer or encourages them to discuss amongst themselves.
What was most evident in all three class videos was the power that dialog has to emotionally impact us when it is given a storytelling platform and when it is allowed to evolve beyond two dimensional characters. Students learn about different cultures, and gain empathy as they listen to each other's life experiences in Digital Campfires. Some students gained deeper perspective, realizing that the problems in their own lives pale in comparison to young people around the world. This is storytelling in its most powerful form — when it goes beyond “telling” and moves into the realm of immersing and requiring participation.
Monologues and Soliloquies (yes, there are differences between the two) serve the purpose of cluing the audience into a character’s thoughts, feelings or intentions. Monologues deliberately speak to the audience, as if they were on stage/camera with the other actors. Breaking of the 4th wall is intentional and meant to create a multidimensional effect within the story. An example of this is Frank Underwood’s coldly toned monologue from House of Cards (one of many on the show). We have no choice but to give him our focus and loyalty (gulp).
Hamlet aside, a soliloquy that draws me in every time is Red’s parole hearing scene in The Shawshank Redemption. There’s resignation in his voice. He’s not expecting parole. He talks as if he has nothing left to lose, and thus, the audience becomes aware of his innermost thoughts. However, Freeman remains completely within character, speaking with other characters on screen, not to the audience. The audience is taken on the rollercoaster with him, and we root for his success. He’s not speaking directly to us, and yet, we feel what he feels.
When these three types of storytelling elements are done well, they draw the audience in. The wall comes down. There is active listening, participation, growth in empathy, an exchange of ideas and even problem solving. The characters are not merely declaring their intentions, they are demanding our involvement.
ASSIGNMENTS
This week called for 2 separate assignments. Both of mine went in totally opposite directions.

First up, a mix of social media and story-mapping with Ello and Storymap. I joined Ello a few years ago, and have never posted there, but I wanted to use it for this class (really not a fan of Snapchat). Ello’s a great place to curate and explore, so there was a lot of material to work with as I mapped murals from around the world.
Assignment 2 is an ebook on my Dad’s memories in his own words. This project is one I wanted to complete during Finding Voice week. However, I’m so glad I took some extra time on it. Listen to my explanation below on how I arrived at the ebook format. You can visit the static site on Canva or flip through the embedded book below. If you haven’t had this type of dialog with a loved one, encourage them to tell their story. It’s a piece of them that will remain with you and your family after they are gone.
CASE STUDY
What could be more fitting for this week than a review of StoryCorps? I gained a lot of perspective and inspiration from listening to these stories of everyday people. It’s a remarkable organization with a mission that serves the storytellers and generations of listeners to come. Storytelling of, by and for ordinary people.
DAILY CREATE
Dance Party with Coding

Dialog: Twitter and Hypothes.is




