How Technology Has Revolutionized the Art of Storytelling

Storytelling has been a vital part of human history for decades. It helps shape human understanding of the world, as stories could be drawn from the past, present, or give a glimpse of the future. Advancing technologies have affected several sectors, and storytelling hasn’t been left behind. As technology evolves, so do methods of communication.

Interestingly, modern storytelling has striking similarities with ancient methods of storytelling. Instead of replacing old ways of storytelling, technology has amplified the strengths and made stories more accessible. Below are technological revolutions in storytelling.

1. Increasing popularity of visual storytelling

Advancing technology and artificial intelligence have made visual storytelling more popular than before. Visual storytelling adds a new dimension to storytelling and demands more creativity. While imagery had its place in traditional storytelling, especially through cave painting, modern technology has made it easier for storytellers to incorporate infographics, explainer animations, and live scribing into their storytelling sessions.

Storytellers can also bring their characters to life through a character template, which significantly revolutionizes the art of storytelling and how people can listen to stories. The increased adoption of visual storytelling has made it easier for storytellers to reach out to different learners, languages, and cultures.

2. It has democratized storytelling

Storytelling has undergone a significant democratic revolution aided by advancing technologies. The power of storytelling is now in the hands of artists and creatives in the industry. Traditionally, the vices that dominated the public arena and mainstream media were limited to a few privileged minorities.

Those who had skills, platforms, and resources to share stories and their perspectives were heard. You needed a large camera, technical skills, which took years of training, and access to mainstream media to share stories with the public. However, modern affordable technologies have made it easy for people to share their stories. You can raise your voice and contribute to this body of art from your bedroom using your smartphone and social platforms.

3. Smartphones and other new technologies

A recent survey found that almost 50% of the world’s population have access to smartphones. Similarly, more than half of the world’s population have mobile devices that can connect to the internet. Most people can’t imagine how they can survive without these devices.

The increase in smartphone usage and the introduction of other affordable technologies have changed how people listen and share stories. These technologies allow creatives to break through time and location barriers.

4. Stories sparking social movements

Movements that spark social change and revolutions often take years to build up. However, this has changed in the current digital age, as stories can spark global activity within minutes. This decade has witnessed many stories sparking social movements and revolutions, such as the #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo movements.

These recent stories are part of the many issues that should be told to usher in societal changes. Such issues couldn’t be heard some years back because of limited connectivity. The increasing popularity of social platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, has amplified the development of social movements that inspire change.

Endnote

While these technological innovations might be new, stories aren’t. However, technology provides a means to an end by enabling different stories to reach a new audience.