Stories can be told in a surprising amount of ways, each of which leaves a different impression on whoever is consuming it. From hand written tales to motion pictures, the many forms of storytelling have evolved exceptionally throughout time. Even more surprising is that all of these forms are still very popular, some more than others, but none of them are dead, that’s for certain. There are 5 major forms of storytelling, but which is the best?
Books have been around for a long long time. Starting out as manuscripts they evolved into what we know now as a novel. This form of storytelling really excels at engaging the imagination. Books force your mind to imagine what you are reading, what characters look like, setting, and sound. They do the best job putting you in the shoes of a character. You get to know them on a much deeper level by reading their thoughts and how they feel about almost everything that happens. Other forms of storytelling can try but simply cannot do it as often as a novel does. It just doesn’t translate well into other mediums.
Comic books or graphic novels began to pop up in the last 100 years. Beginning as simple comic strips they really began to tell stories when the likes of DC and Marvel took over the market. Comics work really well at providing striking visuals accompanied by a deep connection to the main character through narration and word bubbles. In some cases it really is just reading dialogue and looking at pictures. But when done right, the pictures can do most of the talking.
Live action videos are definitely the most popular form of storytelling for the general audience. It can be used in multiple ways for example, in the form of a movie, TV show, and short film. This form of storytelling really excels at showing you the look of the world and expressions of characters through actors. However, this makes it tricky because sometimes it’s difficult to read what the director is trying to convey to the audience as they can’t just tell you. They need to use actors to correctly convey the emotions the character is feeling.
Animation, while seen as mostly for kids, works exceptionally well in the visual department. Animated films and series can capture expressive colors and unique design choices that could simply never work in live action. This form of storytelling also allows creators to be a bit more creative especially with how things look. Depending on what it is, they don’t have to think about how realistic something looks. They just need to make it look good and they’ll be fine.
Videogames are the final form of storytelling. When done right, they are the most immersive experience you can have. Allowing the player to take control of the character, physically interact with the world and other characters is something that truly makes this art form special. Occasionally, they offer opportunities for players to take the story into their own hands and control the outcome of certain events, as a result getting a different ending to the game, which can be good or bad. Compared to films or books, video games offer plenty more than those other forms can possibly dream of. It’s one thing to watch someone get chased by a monster in a movie or book, but it’s completely different when that’s happening to you in a game.
In conclusion, all forms of storytelling are incredible. All of them can effectively tell an engaging and impactful story in their own unique way. Which is the best? Honestly, that’s completely up to you. Which is the best for you?
