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Archive Number 3583

Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 18:27:06 EST
From: Marcia Gutiérrez
Subject: Re: Abusive Stories


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In a message dated 1/18/2004 2:26:57 PM Central Standard Time,=20
gayesutton@ACTRIX.CO.NZ writes:

> However, the women who had such a strong response stayed behind and I sat
> with them and facilitated their telling each other the stories they needed
> to tell.
> It wasn't therapy but it was a building of community among women who had
> felt extremely isolated before. Would this not be a part of what
> storytelling might do?
> I'm just thinking about movies, plays etc, and how they can evoke the same
> response and whether we question the ethics of that?
>=20
Dear Gaye and all others:

I believe this is the foundation of storytelling whether we tell tragic=20
tales, happy ones or those in-between. For the most I don't tell tragic tal=
es;=20
true or folk. I have rarely been in a situation where that would be ideal.=20=
( Oh=20
I do have one---but have only told it twice and it was ideal for the=20
settings). Storytelling brings us together and helps build community. It a=
lso brings=20
in awareness. As a storyteller I find myself listening more than telling an=
d=20
sometimes the stories I listen to are sad but help the teller, as a performe=
r,=20
though, I want to give to the audience, not have the audience there for my=20
own emotional needs. Yes some tellers are good, really good, at working wit=
h=20
the tragic tales, but I am not there yet and may never be.

On a personal level, storytelling and the sharing of stories has helped me t=
o=20
work better with the hard knocks of life. I have many great friends in=20
story, my favorite right now are the Silkie. I also have many great friends=
in=20
story telling, my favorite right now is Charles de Lint. Each of us need to=
find=20
what can get us thru those abusive, difficult times. I have found that=20
dwelling on the tragedy just keeps it there---too close. My mother-in-law r=
elived=20
hers every year on its anniversary and all it did was make her life miserabl=
e=20
while there were beautiful things happening around her. When she came to me=
=20
and did her martyr routine I would come back with a light hearted remark---s=
he=20
would laugh and walk away with a lighter step.........

Marcia Guti=E9rrez
Elgin, IL

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