It’s easy to become cynical about the current fashion of story as the metaphor for everything from politics to religion to marketing to design. Indeed, I find myself rolling my eyes as another story-centric service is launched at us.

However story is at the heart of Pararchive and Yarn and for a good reason. Dean mentioned in his introduction of Yarn…

“…archival material will support that, but without a story behind it, the items lose meaning.”

But more broadly, with each launch of a story app for iPads and phones, I find myself discovering deep research on the transformative effect of story on our psyche and the conveyance of histories and biographies. Last week, a wonderful essay on Aeon Magazine, explored exactly this area, it’s worth a read.

“…story is an inextricable part of our DNA. Across time and across cultures, stories have proved their worth not just as works of art or entertaining asides, but as agents of personal transformation.”

More at… aeon.co/magazine/psychology/once-upon-a-time-how-stories-change-hearts-and-brains