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Articles
What are Deep Stories?
by Mark Weaver, PhD
Founder/Director
Deep StoryWorks
 We
have each accumulated (consciously and unconsciously) countless
stories over the course of our lives. The sources of these stories
include our families, schooling, relationships and media we have been
exposed to. Stories are units of meaning woven together from images, archetypal
symbols, and narrative forms. Our distinctly human essence is to make
meaning of our experiences, and we do this by combining stories into a
sort of patchwork of filters through which experience our selves and the
world.
We accumulate stories and construct our worlds individually as well
as collectively (in groups, subcultures, and nations).
 Certain
story elements (archetypes) and patterns (myths) are present in all cultures
and are reflected in their literature, science and art. Deep
Stories are the central narratives and images operating at a generative
level within an individual, a group, or a culture. These defining,
core story lines (e.g. the “cowboy” spirit and rugged individualism
of the American west) have a profound influence on our evolving consciousness,
our lives, and the realities we construct.
In modern times, much of the world story patchwork is increasingly impacted
and influenced by the voices of a few— through the far reach of
TV, advertisements, movies and other media. It is critical that we recognize
how cultures are constantly hearing/seeing and passively absorbing the
powerful and pervasive influential deep story content of television and
feature films ...which generally represents the voice of a self-serving
minority. An example of this is the impression abroad (and at home) of
American values and life largely fed by images and messages of consumption
and violence.
 Stories
may serve a person, a group, or a nation effectively over a long period
of time. These guiding narratives may also eventually become eroded and
even life-threatening (to both the social and natural environments) as
time and conditions advance... leading to the call for “new
stories”.
Deep StoryWorks seeks to inspire a personal media
movement that gives opportunity to the many
– to voice their own narratives of hope, of adventures in collaboration,
and of heroic triumphs over the modern-day "dragons"
threatening society and our planet.
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