Other Options for Storytelling

“Modernist manuals of writing often conflate story with conflict. This reductionism reflects a culture that inflates aggression and competition while cultivating ignorance of other behavioral options.”

• Ursula K. Le Guin

In a society saturated with easy-to-understand Hollywood narratives, the idea that a story must revolve around conflict has become almost axiomatic. This approach, heavily influenced by Joseph Campbell's Hero’s Journey, permeates our collective storytelling in the United States, and shapes our perceptions of ourselves and the world. But what if there’s a different way to tell stories, one that eschews conflict as the primary driver and embraces a more harmonious, inclusive approach? Find out in this innovate workshop exploring traditional New Mexican storytelling traditions that thwart the dominant American paradigm.