- Title
- Once upon a time: constructing narrative and the role of storytelling in the (digital) future of Australian children's picture books
- Creator
- Killen, Chloe
- Relation
- Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference Conference (ANZCA 2012). Referred Proceedings of the 2012 Australian and New Zealand Communication Association Conference: Communicating Change and Changing Communication in the 21st Century (Adelaide, S.A. 4-6 July, 2012)
- Relation
- http://www.anzca.net/conferences/past-conferences/140-anzca12-proceedings.html
- Publisher
- Australian and New Zealand Communication Association (ANZCA)
- Resource Type
- conference paper
- Date
- 2012
- Description
- Uncertainty about the future often creates fear. Currently there is great concern surrounding the role of literature as we move into a digital age. Large chain bookstores are closing, there is an increase in non-traditional publishing formats, and types of audiences are rapidly shifting. Many fear the book is in danger as rapid declines in readerships may result in physical books becoming minority artifacts. Consequently, there is real concern about capturing audiences and encouraging literacy, particularly children, in an increasingly digitised world. However, at the heart of any society is the very human desire to share stories as a way of making sense of experience. Constructing narratives is uniquely human, occurring all over the world and throughout time. Societies speak to themselves and examine issues, questions of humanity, and the human condition through constructed and shared stories. This process begins early in life as children are socialised through narrative constructions from the moment they are born. Picture books, perhaps more than other texts, therefore play a fundamental role in shaping the way children see, engage with and understand the world. This persistent 'social interaction through message' (Fiske, 1990:2) is vital to the existence and survival of social organisations and resulting cultures as without it, 'culture of any kind must die' (Friske, 1990:2). Storytelling is an enduring and habitual element of humanity's survival. Perhaps, therefore, fears of a story-less future are unfounded, as constructing narratives will prevail as a primary form of communication, creating meaning through whatever media are engaged.
- Subject
- narrative; storytelling; children's picture books; digital age
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1340547
- Identifier
- uon:28512
- Identifier
- ISSN:1448-4331
- Language
- eng
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