Picture Storytelling Scroll

"Pictures are most mysterious
Without explanation they can seem quite meaningless
That is why since the beginning of time,
We've had picture storytellers as the go between..."

This is the storytelling scroll I made for a presentation to fellow Puppetry students at CSSD following the picture storytelling tradition from its origins in 6th Century India to its present day manifestation as...the television. It's made from a charmingly kitch duvet cover I found in a local charity shop.
Performance involved me singing, accompanied by the accordion.



Based on an illustration of picture storytelling in ancient India.



From an illustration of an Italian 'Cantastoria' performer.



A German "Bankelsanger", or bench singer.



Detail from an American scrolling panorama, the 'Sioux War Panorama', a propaganda piece shown to early American settlers encouraging them to settle and have children without fear of the Native American Indians, of whom many were being massacred at the time.