Book Excerpt: WTF is Spoken Word & Storytelling?
An excerpt from “WTF, Answering All Your Questions About the Art World”
Spoken word and storytelling are forms of oral performance where individuals express themselves, share stories, or convey messages through spoken language. While they share some similarities, there are distinct differences between the two:
Spoken Word: Spoken word is a performance art form that combines elements of poetry, storytelling, and theater. It involves the recitation or performance of original or pre-existing poetic pieces that are often rhythmic, passionate, and emotionally charged. Spoken word performances may include elements of music, movement, and improvisation, and they often tackle personal experiences, social issues, or political themes. Spoken word can be accompanied by music or performed acapella, and it emphasizes the power of spoken language and vocal delivery to captivate and engage the audience.
Storytelling: Storytelling is the art of conveying narratives, tales, or anecdotes orally, typically in a sequential and engaging manner. Storytelling has a long history as a means of passing down cultural traditions, sharing knowledge, and entertaining listeners. Storytellers use their voice, gestures, and expressions to bring characters and events to life, creating vivid mental imagery for the audience. Storytelling can take various forms, including traditional folktales, personal anecdotes, legends, myths, or fictional narratives. It can be performed in intimate settings, such as gatherings or storytelling circles, or on larger stages as a professional performance art.
And now I’d like to share with you a section from our e-book, WTF? Answering All Your Questions About the Art World. WTF, of course, stands for What the Fresco. I wrote this with my partners Nechama Hermon, an art historian, and Ashley Ludwig, an arts and culture expert.
We wrote this book using colloquial language, a bit of irreverence, a little help from AI, and an open attitude. Our goal is to be inviting, fun, and informative, especially to young adult audiences and people new to the art world. We want to be engaging. We hope you’ll laugh. We hope you’ll investigate some of these cultural events and make plans to attend. We hope you’ll rush right over to your nearest museum and enjoy it with new eyes. We hope you’ll ask questions and fall in love with the arts.
The book is a graphic design masterpiece! I’m so proud of our colorful and visually pleasing layout. Each page is different and vibrant. It’s fantastic fun to look at. Frankly, it just makes me happy.
Add happy + educational and you get the best art book intro any culturally interested person could find.