The Art of Storytelling: Archetypes in Focus

“The power of stories lies in their ability to access the deep layers of the psyche, providing a mirror to our inner world.” – Marie-Louise Von Franz

As aptly stated by Jimmy Neil Smith, “We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.” What distinguishes humans is not merely our consciousness, but our innate capacity to craft narratives—myths being the earliest manifestations of this unique trait, as noted by Margaret Atwood, “built in the human plan. We come with it.”

This conference aims to convene screenwriters, performance storytellers, digital storytellers, authors, educators, practitioners, journalists, scholars, researchers, psychologists, visual artists, and other creatives to explore the diverse types, functions, and significance of storytelling. In addition to delving into the fundamental question, “what truly constitutes a story?”, we seek to delve into why storytelling remains vital, how it continues to resonate in contemporary society, and the profound impact narratives have on shaping our perceptions and identities. With a comparative lens, we will examine various narrative forms, tracing their roots in mythology to the latest innovations in storytelling.