storytelling & narratives
TRANSCRIPT
Let me tell you the truth…
I tell two kinds of stories
• Persuasive – of numbers and narratives (Hint: Consulting business)
• Unnoticed – of mavericks, climate change, organic farming & my weird experiments
Storyboard of my life
1990s 2007-Present 2011-2013 2013-Present
Image: Free digital photos
Balvinder is married, outspoken and deeply engaged with social issues.
Which of the following is more likely?
Balvinder is a bank manager
OR
Balvinder is a bank manager who is an active volunteer at an NGO
Image courtesy: Freedigitalphotos.net
Now, you don’t believe me. Do you?
How a story is supposed to work?
LifeExperiences
FactsEmotional reaction
Emotional reaction
Think/Debate/Argue
Context dies out
Your
Image source: http://soshable.com/make-any-blogging-style-work-for-you/blogger-cartoon/
Mark Twain wasn’t Mark Twain.Mark Zorro isn’t Mark Zorro.
Are YOU wearing your digital mask?
..It’s a proof of concept, it’s to prove a theory. And it’s to prove that who you are doesn’t matter. In fact, truth requires that you aren’t anyone, because if you’re someone, whatever you say is always biased. It’s influenced by what you know about that person…It’s the words...not the person that matters
Robot Dinosaur Image source: Fake Grimlock @ Twitter
Mark Zorro Image Sourcehttp://classicmoviesdigest.blogspot.in/2010/04/mark-of-zorro-1940-robin-hood-spanish.html
Marketing and press kicks up dust…It gets in your eye, and then you’re not focusing on the product.
Are you kicking up dust?
Image Source: Forbes Profile Jan Koum http://www.forbes.com/profile/jan-koum/
Rockstar hero wakes up to his bad
dream where his uncle is killed
Hero is suffering from <Insert the latest syndrome>
Hero meets the assassin
Hero kills the assassin
Assassin was the hero’s dad’s best
friend
Image Courtesy: IMDB, Wikipedia
So what are narratives?
What is “Curse of knowledge?
Image source: http://richardwiseman.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/can-you-see-the-baby-for-the-trees/
Two opposing blog narratives
Seth Godin Image Source: Boing Boing Seth Godin Interview
Inception Image Source: IMDB
Parachute Image Source: Toonpencil
Here’s the narrative formula
1) Lede2) Nut Graf3) Deep Breath. It all began when…4) Then this, Then This, Then this5) Here we are. What comes next?6) Kicker and out
Source: Dan Lyons presentation at INBOUND 2013: “Tell me a story: When Media and Marketing become One”
Which Archetype are you playing with?
1. Betrayal2. Underdog3. Revenge4. Freud/Oedipus5. Resurrection/Oath
Source: Dan Lyons presentation at INBOUND 2013: “Tell me a story: When Media and Marketing become One”
Reality
Media
Data
Algorithm
Narrative
Meaning
New narrative
Reality
Media
Data
Algorithm
Narrative -1
Meaning-1
Narrative-n
Meaning-n
Old narrative
What-if realities
So what?