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Thanks to a limitless resource called the Internet, we are inundated with stories on any subject we desire.
But it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lost when searching for information, especially when it entails complex societal issues. These subjects can be difficult to comprehend.
Tip: When looking for stories about complicated topics, look for first-hand accounts from people who have experienced them.
For example, rather than read a historian’s take on World War I, wouldn’t you rather hear first-hand from a veteran who was there? Who fired a rifle at the enemy and dodged return fire? Who left home as a teenager, walked the trenches and felt the ground shake as bombs exploded nearby?
There’s no substitute for authentic human emotion to bring a story to life.
Whether it be war or poverty, sexual violence or education, almost any complex societal issue is more easily understood when it’s delivered through a first-hand account from someone who has lived and experienced that issue.
When we can identify with a character in a story that tackles complex issues, we are more engaged, more open-minded and more likely to change our behaviours.
We are more likely to remember key elements of information if it reaches us in the form of a well-told story. Good stories help us remember events shared in the story and feel like the experiences are our own, thus possibly influencing our beliefs.
For example, the story of Aylan Kurdi, the boy whose body washed ashore after fleeing Syria, inspired people to learn more about the issue and take action. After the story of Alyan went viral, Google searches for the Syrian conflict spiked and donations to a fund specifically designated to aid Syrian refugees dramatically increased.
We’re more apt to relate to and better understand a complex issue when we hear how it affected someone’s life. Humans connect with humans through storytelling, regardless the subject.
Understand more about first person storytelling from the team at Martin Charlton Communications. 306-584-1000 or complete the form below.
