Education

Does the Education of a Storyteller Talk About the Flesh? The Human Side of Storytelling

Storytelling is often seen as a craft, a skill honed over time, but one essential question lingers: does the education of a storyteller talk about the flesh? While much of the focus in formal storytelling education lies in mastering narrative structures and technical elements, the deeper, more visceral aspects of human storytelling—those tied to emotions, physicality, and raw human experience—are frequently overlooked. In this post, we explore the relationship between education and the “flesh” in storytelling, how formal learning can shape or limit a storyteller’s ability to capture human experience, and how the gap might be bridged.

The Role of Education in Storytelling

Storytelling is as old as humanity itself. For centuries, it has been a way for people to share experiences, explain the unknown, and connect with others. Education in storytelling often includes formal courses in literature, creative writing, and even performing arts, where storytellers are taught the mechanics of a good story—plot structure, pacing, character development, and so on. But does education of a storyteller talk about the flesh, the deeper emotional and physical experiences that define what it means to be human?

Formal Education vs. Natural Talent

One of the most debated aspects of storytelling is the tension between natural talent and formal education. While some argue that storytelling is an innate gift, others emphasize the value of learning structured techniques in the classroom. Formal education equips storytellers with tools that help them organize their narratives and deliver them effectively, yet it often prioritizes the technical and structural elements of stories—dialogue, plot points, and character arcs.

But where do the raw elements of humanity fit into this? Emotions, visceral experiences, and sensory details are often treated as secondary elements in traditional storytelling curriculums. This raises the question: does education of a storyteller talk about the flesh? Does it truly delve into the emotional depth and physicality of the human condition, or is it more about learning the rules of the craft?

Curriculum Design: Technical Mastery vs. Emotional Connection

Curriculums in storytelling education are designed to teach specific techniques that ensure a well-rounded storyteller. From plot structure to character development, storytelling programs focus on the rules and guidelines that make a story cohesive and understandable. However, many students and emerging storytellers often find themselves asking about the more visceral aspects of storytelling—the parts that connect with audiences on a deeper, more personal level.

Education tends to place less emphasis on the sensory experience of storytelling. Sure, we read about the importance of tone and atmosphere, but rarely do we engage with the raw emotional texture that can make a story unforgettable. The body, physical sensations, and the complex emotional landscape of characters are often treated as secondary to the overarching structure. As a result, many storytellers may feel that their education does not fully prepare them for capturing the full human experience.

“The Flesh” in Storytelling: What Does it Mean?

does education of a storyteller talk about the flesh

The term “flesh” in the context of storytelling refers to the raw human experience—the emotions, physical sensations, and sensory details that make a narrative truly immersive. It’s not just about what happens to the characters, but how they feel it. How does the body respond to trauma, love, loss, or joy? These elements can make a story come alive in ways that are far more engaging than plot alone.

Emotional Depth and the Human Experience

Humans are complex beings with emotional lives that are difficult to quantify but essential to understanding and portraying. Emotions form the backbone of great storytelling. Whether through suspense, empathy, or catharsis, storytellers have long used emotional depth to connect with their audience. The question arises: does the education of a storyteller talk about the flesh—specifically, does it prepare a storyteller to evoke powerful emotions, to elicit the deepest human responses?

Storytelling often attempts to connect the audience with characters on an emotional level. This is particularly true for genres like drama, romance, and horror, where the human experience is at the forefront. But can education truly teach how to embody emotions authentically? Or is it something that must be experienced and internalized, often through lived experiences rather than formal lessons?

The Physical Body in Narratives

In addition to emotions, the physical body plays an essential role in storytelling. How characters move, breathe, and react to events can say just as much about them as their words. Yet, in many traditional storytelling educations, the physicality of characters is rarely given its due attention.

Does education of a storyteller address these physical aspects of narrative? Or is the body often relegated to secondary concerns like costume design or minor character traits? It’s important to recognize that the body—the way it expresses joy, sorrow, pain, or excitement—is integral to fully understanding the human experience. Educators who emphasize the physicality of storytelling help students tap into these sensory experiences, ensuring that the body becomes a critical part of the narrative, not an afterthought.

Limitations of Traditional Education in Addressing “The Flesh”

Despite the vast amounts of knowledge imparted in formal storytelling programs, many educators and students alike find that traditional curriculums do not focus on the flesh—the raw, sensory-driven aspects of storytelling. Education tends to prioritize structure and craft, and while these are undoubtedly important, they are not enough to make a story come to life in a deeply human way.

Focus on Structure Over Sensory Experience

Many storytelling programs place a heavy emphasis on mastering story structure, plot devices, and narrative arcs. While these are critical components of storytelling, they often fail to tap into the visceral elements that drive an emotional response from the audience. The act of weaving sensory details—sounds, smells, tastes, textures—into the narrative creates an environment in which the audience can truly connect with the story. However, this is rarely taught in depth in traditional curriculums.

When the flesh is discussed, it’s often as a secondary component of storytelling. The focus is typically on what the audience sees on the surface—the dialogue, the plot—but not the undercurrent of human experience that shapes those events. Educators may provide a framework for character development, but the emotional and physical depths of these characters often go unexplored.

The Lack of Emphasis on the Unspoken

Another gap in formal storytelling education is the lack of attention to the unspoken—the things we feel but cannot necessarily express. Many people experience emotions or sensations that go beyond what can be articulated. Education may teach you how to write dialogue, but does it teach you how to convey unspoken emotions through non-verbal cues—through silence, body language, or subtle sensory details? These unspoken aspects are what truly bring stories to life and give them texture. The ability to convey emotions without words is a skill that must be nurtured beyond the classroom.

Storytellers Who Break the Mold: Non-Traditional Educators

Not all storytellers fit neatly into the molds created by formal education. Some emerge from non-conventional educational backgrounds, relying on lived experiences, intuition, and self-taught methods to tell stories that are full of emotion and physicality. These storytellers have often developed their craft through life experiences, deep introspection, and observation of the human condition.

Non-Conventional Educators

Storytellers like Toni Morrison and James Baldwin exemplify individuals who have used their lived experiences and their understanding of human emotion to create profoundly resonant works. Despite their formal education, their stories are driven by raw emotion and physical reality—elements that go beyond traditional educational approaches.

These storytellers didn’t rely on traditional classroom structures to convey the flesh of their characters’ experiences. They often drew on cultural, personal, and emotional experiences to create narratives that were both deeply human and deeply physical.

Self-Taught Storytellers

Many successful storytellers are self-taught, having honed their skills outside of formal education. These writers, actors, and filmmakers often develop a more visceral style of storytelling by drawing on their own understanding of the body, emotions, and sensory experiences. For example, Frederick Douglass crafted powerful narratives about his life as a slave, using vivid descriptions of his emotions and experiences—something that might not be fully taught in a traditional writing classroom.

Self-taught storytellers may bypass the rules in favor of authenticity, relying on instinct rather than adhering to the structure of academic theory. This often results in more raw, real, and unfiltered portrayals of the human experience, which is essential to talking about the flesh in storytelling.

Bridging the Gap: Does the Education of a Storyteller Talk About the Flesh?

Despite the limitations of traditional education, there are ways for storytelling curriculums to evolve and better address the flesh—the emotions, physicality, and sensory experiences that form the heart of any good story. The key is to expand curriculums to reflect the emotional and sensory components of storytelling alongside the technical.

Expanding Curricula to Include Sensory and Emotional Writing

One possible solution is for storytelling programs to focus more on the sensory experience. Encouraging students to include descriptions of touch, sound, taste, and smell could add a deeper level of immersion to their work. By teaching students to observe the world around them through the lens of human experience, educators could prepare storytellers to tap into these emotions and physical sensations.

Incorporating Diverse Voices and Experiences

Another way to broaden storytelling education is to include more diverse voices in the curriculum. Different cultures and experiences bring new perspectives on the human condition, and incorporating these perspectives can provide a deeper understanding of the flesh. By allowing students to explore emotional experiences from various backgrounds, they can become more effective storytellers who can tackle complex human emotions with empathy and authenticity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while formal education provides essential tools for developing the craft of storytelling, it often falls short when it comes to addressing the raw emotional and physical elements that make a story come alive. The flesh—that is, the sensory and emotional depth of human experience—is often left unexplored in traditional education. However, there are ways for education to evolve, providing future storytellers with the skills to craft narratives that not only follow structure but fully embody the human experience. By embracing these changes, education can help storytellers bridge the gap between technical mastery and true emotional connection.

The question remains: Does education of a storyteller talk about the flesh? The answer is nuanced—it does, but there’s room for improvement. Through an evolution of curriculums that emphasize emotion, physicality, and sensory experiences, storytelling education could better equip storytellers to create narratives that resonate on a deeper, more human level.

Mark Twain

Mark Twain is an experienced blogger at Express Blog, passionate about language and communication. Mark Twain’s work continues to resonate globally celebrated for its humor, wisdom and enduring relevance. He is all about making technology easy and exciting for everyone. Join us on this journey as we explore how technology shapes our world.

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