There was a time when storytelling was about telling the story…
Today, stories aren’t just stories. They’re content. Every beloved character is an asset and every IP a streamable, expandable, milkable “universe.” Marvel and Star Wars are proof that even the strongest heroes can suffer death by a thousand sequels and spinoffs.
So, the art of storytelling has been on my mind in the past few days. After last week’s storytelling session at LinkedIn HQ, and the news of Amazon’s acquisition of the James Bond intellectual property, it has got me thinking about storytelling in the modern age.
Say what you will about James Bond (a character out of step with the modern world), Bond has successfully endured for decades by shifting (somewhat) with the times; from debonair assassin to world weary warrior, while remaining firmly in the cultural conversation. In large part this was thanks to the curatorial stewardship of the storytelling by producers Cubby & Barbara Broccoli (real names that sound like preposterous movie character names).
In Bond’s world, there’s always a villain pulling the strings from the shadows. In the real world, it’s less shadowy, albeit strangely similar. Jeff Bezos, a man with limitless resources and an affinity for world domination (and willy-shaped rockets), now has 007 in his grasp. And he has every reason to turn Bond into a factory. TV series, expanded lore, side characters getting their own inevitable spin-offs.
But at what cost to the storytelling?
I believe that storytelling is how we truly connect as humans. That’s as true in business as it is with blockbusters. But, in our consumption-driven age, that magic feels compromised by the relentless race to the bottom (line). But the goal should be to tell stories that resonate deeply to forge connections that go beyond any particular business quarter.
We don’t need more stories. We just need better ones. The ones that stick in your head forever like a good Bond one-liner.
If you’d like to bring some of my creative storytelling magic to your organisation, then clickety click below to learn more about my customisable workshops and keynotes. Alternatively you can book a free consultation here or send me an email.
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