ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an introduction to the following enduring facets of effective stories: fidelity; essential story components; and folklore legends, fables, parables. Illustrations of Digital Story Telling (DST) corroborate the enduring relevance of these facets of storytelling that are integral to learning. DST often questions fidelity in that truth can be easily manipulated, distracting the reader or viewer from getting the presumably true message. DST reflects these enduring facets of film in multiple forms. Digital editing affords an opportunity to replace images, sound, or language, changing the meaning of what might previously have been accepted as truth. The traditions of archetypes, legends, parables, and fables are enacted in DST through personal stories created to share, inform and connect with others. The Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS) has identified eight different types of stories that are reflected in the collections that have accrued over the many years the center has supported the development of DST.