Bringin' It Home

Forward: Fishing for Stories

To close the semester, I wanted to find a digital story or storytelling site that would surpass them all--something that would stand out among the rest. I was spurred on by Trevor's consecutive weeks of coming up with the most interesting sites we've ever seen. I began as most people do with Google. First, I searched 'Web 2.0 Storytelling.' I faintly remember hearing someone mention during our review of review sites that they would start exploring 'the tenth page,' so that's exactly what I did. I clicked '10' and much to my surprise, this is what I found:

It's my name!! I'm assuming someone created a program, similar to Jonathan Harris's that scans the web for web 2.0 storytelling, and since that was the name of my blog post, presto! The site is simply a page with two links: one to my blog post and the other to a Twitter page or tweet that is also a link (or in this case, a tiny url) to my blog.

After that, I continued to comb the web for the holy grail of digital storytelling. I stumbled upon Teach Digital: A Curriculum by Wes Fryer. It's a fantastic resource for learning how to use all different kinds of digital media. It had plenty to say about digital storytelling, without actually hosting any stories. So I marched on...

Eventually I came right back to the place where I started for my previous post. I could not catch the big fish. To Trevor I admit defeat. However I found something that while it may not push the envelope, it pushes the right buttons for me.

Going to Clifton

Going to Clifton is the story of a town tucked away in the ___ mountains of ___. Its also the beautiful story of a small, modest family making a convincing case for the saying, "home is where the heart is." We explore the Clifton elementary school, the Greenlee County courthouse, and the North Clifton RV Park. Normally I would hate simple slideshows like this with nothing more than poorly taken digital photos and and stock background music. But for once, that's exactly why I like this digital story. I think it might have something to do with the time and place or mood I watched it in, because I felt transported. I didn't look at it from above and scoff at its simplicity. Instead, I gave in and let it enfold me.

I was offered a look into the lives of complete strangers. I took a vacation to an exotic locale. I had a one-of-a-kind experience in a foreign land, but not just for once in my life. Thanks to the miracle of digital storytelling, I can revisit anytime.

The pace and tone of the story are what do it for me. This slideshow works best without dialogue because it is a very secluded, tranquil place. They even added sound effects to create more atmosphere. I felt completely at peace. I was exported from the unfriendly confines of my stress-laden bedroom to a hillside overlooking the valley. If I had to guess I would say Clifton is in New Mexico. If not, then either Nevada or Arizona, I can't be sure. I suppose I could look it up, but I don't want to. I like the mystery. I understand now what Harris was talking about when he said that sometimes it's better to only have a glance. I feel a connection with this family, but not bound, if that makes any sense. I feel the magic of grazing someone else's soul, and taking a piece of it home with me. I assume this is what Harris experiences when he collects stories. I immediately begin to understand how he could be so addicted to this; why people love to travel so much. In fact, I can even feel myself growing more and more restless--anxious for the open road.

At the end of the video there is a dedication to grandpa Salvador Romero 1914-1985. It's like the cherry on top or the prize at the bottom of the cereal box. Now I can put a face to this uncharted territory and get a better sense for what it means to the people who inhabit it. They are one with the valley. This is a place they have made their own, perhaps with blood, sweat and tears. Maybe not for the father and daughter who visit, but for his father and her grandfather, and everyone they knew in town...this is the place they call home. And I don't care who you are, it feels good to be home.