Question: What Makes A Story?

sto·ry  [stawr-ee, stohr-ee] noun, plural -ries, verb, -ried, -ry·ing. noun
1. a narrative, either true or fictitious, in prose or verse, designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the hearer or reader; tale.

This definition is not untrue, but it is somewhat limited. Who says a story must be limited to prose or verse? One could argue that music is included in this definition as most would agree songs are written in verse, but what about other forms of art? Does being a painter, sculptor, pianist, or photographer preclude one from being a storyteller? I argue emphatically NO. Take, for example, the photograph below:

[photo removed. to see images referenced, visit this page.]

 This incredibly beautiful photograph is a story in itself. Small details like her wedding ring add depth to the story and help you piece together what has happened. Put this photo together with the other photos in the series, and you start to understand the pain this woman is facing. You don’t need to be told. You can see it.

The point? I guess I have a couple. Don’t discount other mediums when telling your story and pay attention (yep, that one again) because everything and everyone has a tale to tell.

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