FoST exhibit “Sensory Stories” opens April 18

OFFERINGS FROM THE FUTURE OF STORYTELLING: The Future of Storytelling (FoST) has been holding weekly virtual roundtables. There’s one today with playwright Bryan Delaney, and then the schedule skips a few weeks, with the next scheduled roundtable taking place on May 6th, and featuring Sarah Wood of the marketing technology company Unruly. FoST has also curated “Sensory Stories: An Exhibition of New Narrative Experiences,” opening April 18th at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, New York.

HISTORY PROJECT SEEKS SUBMISSIONS: “The History Project” is a nonprofit with a mission to help young people “learn to identify biases and stereotypes by juxtaposing contrasting textbook history narratives and by making history education fun.” The basic idea: kids learn about social conflicts from history textbooks, which are shot through with stereotypes and biases. Those biases in turn shape kids’ social identities and dehumanizing the so-called “enemy.” The organization’s first book puts passages from Indian and Pakistani textbooks side by side, comparing the various perspectives on events such as the War of Independence and the Partition of Bengal. They’re seeking submissions for their next publication. Check their website or Facebook page.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS AS SITE FOR POLITICAL COMMENTARY: Stories and fragments of stories make their way into every corner of digital media, including customer reviews online. An Indiana pizzeria said it wouldn’t cater same-sex weddings, prompting commenters to lash out on the company’s Yelp page. And more hilariously, when BIC launched a new line of ballpoint pens “For Her” — in light blue, pink, purple and other girlish colors! — Amazon.com visitors let loose with thousands of reviews.  Sample review: “These pens fit perfect in my hands, but hubby feels they are unnecessary since he writes all the checks. I’d explain more but I have to go make him a sammich.”