Csenge Virág Zalka's Blog, page 90
February 7, 2014
MythOff USA - Tricksters won the Monsters, monsters won the Tricksters, and everyone is happy
And here we go again. MythOff USA rumbles on, for the first time in the North, in our very own Bowling Green, OH. New venue, new people, old stories.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about putting on a MythOff in a whole new town. I was used to organizing these in the storytelling-saturated home turf on Jonesborough, where you can't even cough without five storytellers saying "Bless
I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about putting on a MythOff in a whole new town. I was used to organizing these in the storytelling-saturated home turf on Jonesborough, where you can't even cough without five storytellers saying "Bless
February 1, 2014
D&D Win: How turn a Questing Beast into a Questing Feast
Once upon a time a group of fearless adventurers, long famous for their incredible feats and well respected in their world for their knowledge and bravery, their long traveled road paved with slain monsters and grateful commoners, and the weariness of a good day's work behind them, decided to gather on a Saturday afternoon at Jacob's place and play some Dungeons & Dragons.
Our chosen characters
Our chosen characters
January 10, 2014
6 Books that need an English translation
Every once in a while I ask English-speaking people if they have heard of a book and only realize that it has not been published in English after I get a bunch of blank stares. At first I was shocked that "not published in English" is a phrase that exists, but apparently it does, and people who don't read all those other languages are missing out of some of my favorite books I have ever read. To
November 27, 2013
What storytellers should take away from Frozen, or, "Wait, did Disney just beat the original....?"
Yes. Yes it did.
As a person who had to listen to The Little Match Girl read aloud by her teacher year after year before Christmas, the name of Hans Christian Andersen to me is eternally bound to childhood emotional trauma. I have never cared for any of his stories (and I had all the picture books), and most of them just downright made me want to curl up in a ball and wail.
Okay, so I had my
As a person who had to listen to The Little Match Girl read aloud by her teacher year after year before Christmas, the name of Hans Christian Andersen to me is eternally bound to childhood emotional trauma. I have never cared for any of his stories (and I had all the picture books), and most of them just downright made me want to curl up in a ball and wail.
Okay, so I had my
November 25, 2013
My Loki is not your Loki, and that's okay
Trickster has taken over the Internet, and is laughing out loud at all of us.
...
Of course I am talking about Loki. Geez, everyone's talking about Loki these days.
Thor: The Dark World is premiering worldwide, bringing along a renewed interest in Marvel comics, Norse mythology, and, most of all, a certain trickster so masterfully embodied by Tom Hiddleston that it gave birth to this gemstone of
...
Of course I am talking about Loki. Geez, everyone's talking about Loki these days.
Thor: The Dark World is premiering worldwide, bringing along a renewed interest in Marvel comics, Norse mythology, and, most of all, a certain trickster so masterfully embodied by Tom Hiddleston that it gave birth to this gemstone of
November 20, 2013
Universal declaration of children's rights to listen to stories
(This declaration in ten points has been circulating among Spanish and Latin-American storytellers for decades, and has been recently posted again by the Red Internacional de Cuentacuentos. I made an English translation so it can spread even further.)
1. Every child, regardless of race, language or religion, has the right to listen to the most beautiful stories of every nation, especially the
1. Every child, regardless of race, language or religion, has the right to listen to the most beautiful stories of every nation, especially the
October 19, 2013
Why is marriage always the end of the story?
This is exactly the kind of question that usually makes me feel like
throwing a classic storyteller’s hissy fit; yet here I am asking it.
People usually think of “all stories” in terms of the classic fairy tale
canon, the list of tales solidified by years of telling and re-telling, and
also by Disney. You know the ones I am talking about. Even when you are a
storyteller with long years of
throwing a classic storyteller’s hissy fit; yet here I am asking it.
People usually think of “all stories” in terms of the classic fairy tale
canon, the list of tales solidified by years of telling and re-telling, and
also by Disney. You know the ones I am talking about. Even when you are a
storyteller with long years of
October 9, 2013
Goodreads Book Giveaway! - Tales of Superhuman Powers
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October 2, 2013
Who is the patron saint of storytelling?
(No, really, who is it? I have always wondered.)
Saint Aloysius (known endearingly as Saint Al's) Catholic School took me up on my offer to adopt them as a storyteller, and they are giving me all kinds of great stuff to do. I did three hours of Greek Mythology on Monday in 6th and 7th grade, also known as Percy Jackson Fan Club. The kids were the audience every storyteller dreams of (they
Saint Aloysius (known endearingly as Saint Al's) Catholic School took me up on my offer to adopt them as a storyteller, and they are giving me all kinds of great stuff to do. I did three hours of Greek Mythology on Monday in 6th and 7th grade, also known as Percy Jackson Fan Club. The kids were the audience every storyteller dreams of (they
September 2, 2013
Defining professional storytelling
"I am a professional storyteller," I introduce myself to people.
"Oh" they say "What does that mean?"
"That means I get paid for it."
I am re-thinking that definition as we speak.
Many young (and younger) storytellers struggle with this definition, and have conflicting feelings about their career, work, and vocation because there is no clear answer. The general Unspoken Truth accepted by most
"Oh" they say "What does that mean?"
"That means I get paid for it."
I am re-thinking that definition as we speak.
Many young (and younger) storytellers struggle with this definition, and have conflicting feelings about their career, work, and vocation because there is no clear answer. The general Unspoken Truth accepted by most
