Topic Brainstorm
I'm excited about the prospect of creating my own storybook or portfolio this semester. The freedom I have in terms of picking topics is relieving because I know I'll enjoy the process. That being said, deciding on four main topics alone has been difficult. I am fascinated by antiquity but also really enjoy retellings of ancient tales through a modern lens. Here are the topics that interest me most:
1. Vikram & Betaal
Vikram and Betaal is a set of stories based on an Indian myth. King Vikram is tasked with carrying a speaking corpse named Betaal to the edge of the forest while maintaining a vow of silence. Betaal makes this a challenging task for Vikram by telling a compelling tale during each trip. At the end of each story, he poses a question to Vikram that forces him to break his vow, causing Betaal to return to the center of the forest and Vikram to repeat his task. I found two books relating to this myth on the Freebookapalooza. I'd like to find a way to incorporate a similar story structure into a modern version of this tale.
2. Akbar & Birbal
Akbar and Birbal stories were a key part of my childhood and are a great example of the moral tales common in Indian folklore. They are based on King Akbar of the Mughal empire and his royal advisor Birbal. King Akbar often came to Birbal with dilemmas and Birbal always managed to offer a witty response. Like the Vikram and Betaal stories, I would be interested in exploring this concept within a modern framework.
3. Greek Mythology
I'm aware that Greek mythology is a very vast topic but I'd like to undertake a gender switch retelling of a classic story. In particular, stories of Crete and the labyrinth are always compelling to me. Making a storybook using Twine wherein the reader can choose to take different paths within the labyrinth would be very exciting. Alternatively, telling the tales of what modern versions of Olympic gods and goddesses would get up to would be fun. This reminds of Percy Jackson and the Olympians which is the book series that initially sparked my interest in Greek mythology as a kid.
4. Canterbury Tales
I read excerpts from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in high school and thought the story within a story narrative structure made the overarching storyline more engaging. In reviewing previous students' storybooks last week, I found a storybook inspired by the Canterbury Tales. I would enjoy telling a tale using Twine in order to let the reader decide which character tells a story first and how other characters respond. I want to be creative with the setting for this story and see the different ways this unique narrative structure can be employed. One idea that comes to mind is the classic tales around a campfire. This way, I can introduce my interest in horror stories into my project.
1. Vikram & Betaal
Vikram and Betaal is a set of stories based on an Indian myth. King Vikram is tasked with carrying a speaking corpse named Betaal to the edge of the forest while maintaining a vow of silence. Betaal makes this a challenging task for Vikram by telling a compelling tale during each trip. At the end of each story, he poses a question to Vikram that forces him to break his vow, causing Betaal to return to the center of the forest and Vikram to repeat his task. I found two books relating to this myth on the Freebookapalooza. I'd like to find a way to incorporate a similar story structure into a modern version of this tale.
2. Akbar & Birbal
Akbar and Birbal stories were a key part of my childhood and are a great example of the moral tales common in Indian folklore. They are based on King Akbar of the Mughal empire and his royal advisor Birbal. King Akbar often came to Birbal with dilemmas and Birbal always managed to offer a witty response. Like the Vikram and Betaal stories, I would be interested in exploring this concept within a modern framework.
3. Greek Mythology
I'm aware that Greek mythology is a very vast topic but I'd like to undertake a gender switch retelling of a classic story. In particular, stories of Crete and the labyrinth are always compelling to me. Making a storybook using Twine wherein the reader can choose to take different paths within the labyrinth would be very exciting. Alternatively, telling the tales of what modern versions of Olympic gods and goddesses would get up to would be fun. This reminds of Percy Jackson and the Olympians which is the book series that initially sparked my interest in Greek mythology as a kid.
4. Canterbury Tales
I read excerpts from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in high school and thought the story within a story narrative structure made the overarching storyline more engaging. In reviewing previous students' storybooks last week, I found a storybook inspired by the Canterbury Tales. I would enjoy telling a tale using Twine in order to let the reader decide which character tells a story first and how other characters respond. I want to be creative with the setting for this story and see the different ways this unique narrative structure can be employed. One idea that comes to mind is the classic tales around a campfire. This way, I can introduce my interest in horror stories into my project.
(Characters in Canterbury Tales; source: British Library on Flickr)
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