Storytelling is one of humanity’s oldest and most beloved traditions, bridging generational gaps and drawing communities together. Since the dawn of civilization, oral storytelling has been a primary method for the transmission of history, cultural practices, moral lessons, and entertaining tales. It has not only shaped our understanding of the world, but also ultimately served as the bedrock for literature, theater, cinema, and many more contemporary arts. 

You’d be hard pressed to find any civilization in history that did not hold stories at the heart of its culture and legacy. In ancient Greece, renowned bards such as Homer skillfully crafted intricate oral epics like the “Iliad” and the “Odyssey,” giving birth to myths and legends that captivate audiences even today. These stories shaped the cultural identity of ancient Greece and continue to influence our understanding of heroism, honor, and destiny.

Similarly, the indigenous tribes of Australia have a rich tradition of oral storytelling, sharing complex narratives that have survived millenia. The indigenous Ngadjonji tribe is credited with the oldest datable story on earth, a 10,000 year-old tale of the creation of Australia’s lakes and mountains. Modern geological dating techniques have identified the exact and still existing formations described in these stories, and the stories in turn lend insight into the volcanic events that shaped Australia. This storytelling tradition remains an essential component of indigenous Australian cultural identity, connecting generations with their ancestral heritage, the cosmos, and the land they have lived on for thousands of years.

In West Africa, griots, also known as oral historians, held a position of respect, tasked with preserving the genealogies, historical narratives, and oral traditions of their communities. The role of griots exemplifies the pivotal place of storytelling in shaping societal structures, establishing historical continuity, and reinforcing cultural norms and values.

Hundreds of years later, in the nascence of a new nation, storytelling would hold similar importance in the development of the United States and its unique culture. Oral traditions birthed cultures connected to the new land in which early Americans found themselves, while the generations-old stories of indigenous populations kept their cultures alive in the face of extreme persecution. 

Storytelling has only proliferated since. From literature to theater and cinema, it is easy to view the importance of storytelling in popular art. Radio shows, podcasts, even TED Talks and corporate webinars hark back to a speaker at the center of a story circle or under the open sky.

Crankies offer a unique storytelling medium in Appalachian culture. These are long, illustrated scrolls, housed in a box and hand-cranked to reveal a sequential narrative corresponding to a story or ballad. The symbiosis of visual art with auditory narrative makes crankies an integral part of the Appalachian storytelling tradition.

Historically, crankies were used in the 19th century as traveling exhibits, with detailed pictorial narratives providing entertainment in an era before widespread literacy and mass media. The Victoria and Albert Museum in London holds a collection of these historical crankies, offering insights into their cultural significance and artistry.

In Appalachian storytelling, the craft of creating crankies is not just a nostalgic nod to the past. It is a living tradition that lends depth and dimension to the storytelling experience, combining the beauty of visual art with the emotive power of oral narratives. The enchanting process of building crankies for Appalachian ballads is an art in itself, a delightful blend of creativity and craftsmanship.