If ever you want to expand your mind, then there is someone you must talk with: Dr. Marsha D. Broadway.This is seven of seven posts relating to my info-gathering trek to BYU on October 21, 2008.When I wrote my Honors Thesis "Transformation of the Storyteller's Identity and Role Through the American Storytelling Movement", Marsha was my thesis adviser. As one of the founders of the
Utah Storytelling Guild, she had inside knowledge of the storytelling community as well as intense English and grammar skills. To this day, she is the Head Juvenile Literature Librarian in the
Harold B. Lee Library at
Brigham Young University (see above picture).
I could not have had a better adviser.While on the BYU campus, I was anxious to hear any questions she would ask about the project. Any question would be her way to open my mind rather than purely out of curiosity.
Marsha read my title and description and wondered, "Why did you call it 'Family Famine: Hunger for Love' rather than 'Family Feast: A Hunger for Love'"?
Her point was that the "famine" choice had a more negative or pessimistic view.I could not answer for a while. I always thought of myself as an optimist. When I had asked friends and family to vote for a title in 2005, "Family Feast" was not even an option. Yet, the word "feast" was a word used within the description.
When I met with
Elizabeth Ellis, one of my
East Tennessee State University professors, to discuss "My Finest Hour" project, I shared the title "Family Famine: Hunger for Love". Her immediate reaction was "oooooooooo." If ever I had questions or doubts regarding the title, they vanished after that response.
Yet, here I was with Marsha and questions poured into me.
She did not mean to ask the question with the attitude of "Why would you ever. . .". She sincerely asked "Why?"Finally, I created lists of the "why" for "Family Famine" and for "Family Feast".
Reasons to use "Family Famine: Hunger for Love":- Program would eventually delve into the dark side of family life such as abuse and abandonment (though would begin and end with the light side)
- Goal to have 12-year-olds+ in attendance and "too happy" of a title could confuse others to think it was a family show for all ages
- Center story "Forsaken Brother" has a moment when famine/hunger is experienced
- Blog and Facebook support group are entitled "Family Famine: Hunger for Love"
Reasons to use "Family Feast: A Hunger for Love":- Program does begin and end with the light side of family relationships
- College students may feel more inclined when there sounds like the possibility of food at an event (and they are one of the main target audiences)
- Light refreshment will be served afterward to reflect the theme
- Focus on end result from performance versus "famine" mood in center of program
- Survey with friends so far has this title in the lead for "which program would you be more likely to attend?"
If nothing else, the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" could be perfect for a book title. For something deeper and darker, a person could always set the book down and come back to it when ready. Thus, a more "negative" title tends to work better for books. However, a live performance does not necessarily give that option.
Most of my programs tend to have the first word be the most important word. In this case, it is "family".
There is also the possibility that both "Family Famine" and "Family Feast" could be used interchangeably and advertising could reflect opposite images to the words. For example, the flies and posters for "Family Famine" would show plenty of food while the "Family Feast" would reflect the lack of food.
Please share which one of these titles you would be more inclined to attend?--- "Family Famine: Hunger for Love"
- "Family Feast: A Hunger for Love"
- "Feast or Famine: Hunger for Love"
- "Family Feast or Famine: A Hunger for Love"
Until we tell again,Rachel Hedman
Professional Storyteller
Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)
Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller