"Tell me a story about long time": A Study of the folkstory performance tradition in the United States Virgin Islands

Abstract

Previous studies of the United States Virgin Islands' cultural traditions focused primarily on folkstories and folksongs as ends in themselves--Virgin Islands folklore-as-materials, Virgin Islands folklore-as-texts, Virgin Islands folklore-as-products. The present study investigated the existing folkstory performance tradition in the United States Virgin Islands by presenting the aesthetic/creative field of each storyteller and further analyzed and accurately documented the formal features of each live performance towards determining the distinctive performance characteristics of these traditional Virgin Islands storytellers who participated in the folkstory performance tradition.

The data for the study were secured by videotaping one complete folkstory performance of each of the six storytellers. Transcriptions and analyses of the performances coupled with tape recorded interviews constituted another type of data used in the study. The results as presented including how to project the folkstory performances, the principles, methodology, and symbols used were those set forth by Fine (1984). Essentially, the Virgin Islands folkstory performance texts are presented utilizing the right margins to describe the molar kinesic movements that go along with the underlined words of the text, smaller movements placed directly beneath the words they accompany and left margins for vocal characterizers and qualifiers.

Immediate recommendations for use of the research study included the incorporation of the Virgin Islands performance-centered texts into the preparation and development of curricula and/or instructional materials that will be used in the schools of the United States Virgin Islands. Other suggestions given were towards interdisciplinary understanding and appreciation for artistic verbal performance.