Clint Till • Video Production | Photography

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The Science of Storytelling

Storytellers know about the dramatic arc: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. But why is this arc so effective? Why do we engage with stories the way we do? This video explains that there is a scientific reason why we react to dramatic stories in an emotional, empathetic way. There's something going on inside of our brains that is directly measurable. Knowing what happens to us physiologically while being exposed to a story can help you as a storyteller conceptualize and structure your stories better. Be sure to leave your take-aways in the comments section.

The emotionally charged story recounted at the beginning Dr. Paul Zak's film-of a terminally ill two-year-old named Ben and his father-offers a simple yet remarkable case study in how the human brain responds to effective storytelling.