STORYTELLING IN THE DIGITAL ERA: PERSPECTIVES ON AGE AND GENDER.

• Author: Shishko, Besmir

1. Introduction

   In the recent past, the transformation of narrative practice and theory has been facilitated largely by the developments in digital technology. Computers have become a new tool for producing and displaying stories, thus initiating a new platform against which narrative analysis could be refined or even tested (Page and Thomas 2011). Therefore, since the 1980s, technological innovations have been instrumental in providing a new means to transmit and store print media narratives (Page and Thomas 2011). The practice of storytelling is strongly established in African-American culture. It enhances the continuity of wisdom and claims the voice of oppressed groups such as African-Americans and women. The use of narrative and facts to express a subject of interest or concern to an audience is storytelling. Storytelling might be factual, improvised, or embellished to convey the appropriate message. Storytelling is significant in African-American culture because it develops connections between people and ideas. Storytelling connects African-Americans through their shared culture, history, and ideals (Crenshaw 2021).

   Other narratives involving various animals (folktales) are also exchanged among African-Americans as a means of amusement and to teach life lessons, particularly between adults and children. The growth of technology in the twenty-first century has given storytelling a new look. Digital storytelling is the process of creating and distributing stories to a target audience using information technology. It is a workshop-based activity where individuals create real-life films for web streaming or transmission on television (Schachtner 2021).

   Isolation, a lack of opportunity, individual moods, future aspirational ambitions, and cultural identity are just some of the challenges digital stories address (Alexandrakis, Chorianopoulos, and Tselios 2020). As a result, digital storytelling has a considerable impact on the role of marginalized groups, where age and gender are important factors to consider. The purpose of this study is to investigate the connection between narratives and digital storytelling and age and gender. As previously stated, storytelling enables communication of social issues, and digital storytelling provides a reliable source of narrative sharing in the twenty-first century. As a result, this research focuses on investigating digital storytelling in relation to age and gender, as well as addressing associated theoretical and practical views and identifying various forms of storytelling.

2. Research questions

   The research on storytelling in the context of digitalization and how it addresses age and gender intersections will rely on the following research questions:

   * What is the definition of storytelling, and how does it connect to digital storytelling?

   * How does digital storytelling influence age and gender?

   * What is the interconnectedness of theory and practice between digital storytelling, age, and gender?

   * What are the different forms of storytelling?

3. Research methodology

   This study makes use of literature review as the research methodology. Their argument is derived from the existing knowledge. The author collects and evaluates previous research and thus establishes a firm foundation for building and transferring knowledge and facilitating the development of theory (Snyder 2019). A literature review is a powerful tool of research and can address research questions by integrating perspectives and findings from multiple empirical findings. The literature review is on various subjects that are deemed relevant to answer the developed research questions. The reviewed scholarly articles are thus about the meaning of storytelling and its convention through digital means, the relation of storytelling to gender and age. In addition, the literature review has been advanced on the relevant theoretical integration, and to this purpose, social constructivism and digital storytelling have been reviewed (Snyder 2019). Finally, the study involves reviewing one of the potential risks associated with digital storytelling, which is the high democracy associated with mass media. The study concludes with a recommendation section and concluding remarks by the author.

   This study defines narratives and how they relate to digital storytelling. The study also evaluates how digital storytelling relates and impacts age and gender. Further, the article explores the interconnectedness of theory and practice in the relation between digital storytelling and age and gender. The study additionally explores the different forms that storytelling can take. Finally, a summary of conclusions obtained from exploring various aspects of digital storytelling in relation to age and gender is provided. This section offers information review and analysis of different aspects related to storytelling in the context of digitalization. It explores narratives, the development of digital storytelling, and how digital storytelling influences age and gender. Further, this section analyses different theoretical and practical aspects linked to digital storytelling and its influence on age and gender. Finally, an analysis of various forms of storytelling is provided.

4. Literature review

   4.1. Storytelling or narratives

   Humans have a natural tendency to tell stories, inform others about occurrences, and share information. It is one of the human characteristics, whether the stories are fictional or true. Nonetheless, people's communication styles have evolved. Storytelling evolved from visual to oral storytelling, with stories passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth (Hausknecht, Vanchu-Orosco and Kaufman 2019). As a result of the shift, narratives were created, including written, printed, and typed stories.

   The art of storytelling usually referred to as narrative, has a long history in African-American culture (Hausknecht, Vanchu-Orosco and Kaufman 2019). It is a tradition that expresses the oppressed people's voice and is based on the continuation of knowledge. Storytelling is more than just a fun way to pass the time. Storytelling is an effective learning tool, and many people regard it as a natural part of life (Amoah 1997). To put it another way, storytelling is the only way for others to comprehend, understand, and cope with life.

   Individuals are driven to stories and storytelling for various reasons, including the fact that they provide entertainment, help people organize their ideas, fill them with emotions, create tension, and provide instructions on how to live and act (Chaitin 2014). Storytelling can also lead to moral and immoral difficulties. It can also be used to heal and give hope to persons who are heartbroken. For example, in African-American communities, storytelling can be a symbol of resistance and healing (Balaman 2018). From their perspective, African-American storytellers convey cultural and historical truths about the African-American community. This allows others to see how wonderful African-American culture is. As a result, healing occurs in the African-American community and among people unfamiliar with the culture (KannengieBer 2012). On the other hand, African-American storytelling heals persons who do not see their lives fitting into white cultural norms, as they find validation and home in the metaphor and rhythm (KannengieBer 2012). As a result, developing a new psychological understanding of the social world is made easier.

   Narratives, often known as storytelling, appear to be an effective means of relaying life experiences. The goal of sharing experiences should be to build a new existence based on the knowledge gained via storytelling. As a result, the narrative is a beneficial process that allows sharing experiences by creating a new context in which individuals who hear and benefit from the narratives can exist. Storytelling has developed from an oral tradition of passing down knowledge and family customs to a means of challenging and dispelling popular ideas (Burgess 2006).

   The art of narrative helps historically oppressed and dehumanized groups, such as women, reclaim their identities (Amoah 1997). By claiming personal narratives, oppressed groups successfully build their sphere of theoretical reality, releasing themselves from the marginalized social status to which the dominant culture has reduced them (Amoah 1997). People on the fringes can better understand the power structure through storytelling or narrative (Amoah 1997). Storytellers know that the power they derive from sharing their stories was already present; all they had to do was harness it and put it to good use.

   4.2. Digital storytelling

   Digital storytelling is a workshop-based activity where participants create their own personal stories, which may then be viewed online or aired on television (Balaman 2018). As a result, digital storytelling is both cultural...