A digital story is both a personal disclosure and a work of art. As a personal disclosure, it needs to be authentic and significant. As a work of art, it can be impactful or bland. As a facilitator, I want to attend to both. (digital storytelling facilitator)
The facilitator also brings the artistic and technical expertise that obscures the digital story crafting process in the artistry of the digital story. This attention to the digital story product also signals the expectation of an audience – an audience that potentially influences the story that is told, how it is told, and what can be shared without risk to the participant storyteller. In terms of audience, there is the workshop audience and there are other intended – perhaps absent – audiences that a storyteller calls to mind to structure the telling. Beyond the workshop, participant storytellers typically have an audience in mind, even if they are undecided on whether or not to share their stories. When digital storytelling is employed in community-building or health promotion efforts, the audience may be groups with shared concerns or lifestyles. Still other storytellers, who seek to shift perspectives or inspire social change, may share their stories in community forums or with policy-makers. In the case of sponsored digital storytelling projects, funders represent yet another audience as well as a stakeholder in the story. In their focus on outcomes, even non-prescriptive funders represent an audience that imprints upon and shapes the digital storytelling product. Facilitators must navigate how to balance funders’ expectations (e.g., control over the story “product” and production value) while still honoring the participant’s story. Back to Stories from the Field...
