The historical significance of storytelling. From ancient Greek myth to the modern blockbuster

Essay from the year 2016 in the subject Sociology - Media, Art, Music, grade: A, , course: Introduction To Western Civilization I, language: English, abstract: Storytelling has been a prominent feature of civilization from the beginnings of prehistoric civilization. Whether these stories come to us in the form of ghost stories over a campfire, local urban legends, the newest netflix series, an age-old cult classic film, or classic literature; it is undeniable that a good story holds an immeasurable amount of power. The latest hit TV series or number one box office hit roots its success in its story's ability to engage the viewer's imagination, often by invoking a broad range of emotion that imprints a lasting impression on the mind. However, there may be a deeper explanation to the appeal of a good story than its superficial value in providing entertainment. Through careful analysis of history's most popular forms of storytelling in all its forms, from oral myth or legend to Disney films, one can find a common thread of latent meaning embedded between the lines that offer us aid in our quest to explain the world around us.