The media and stories around us around us are more than just entertainment, they provide a common space, a piece of the world around us that connects us to others. We learn from these stories, shape our own views and ideas, and listen to and share these ideas with others. They provide a purpose often overlooked, which Dan Santat, as the son of Thai immigrants in rural SoCal, relied upon to connect with a foreign world.
"It (TV) was my junk food, but also it was my in with the kids to be able to talk about pop culture, to know all the little nuances and jokes about the cultural zeitgeist things." - Dan Santat
As the son of Thai immigrants in rural SoCal, Dan relied on the storytelling of the American 80s as his “cultural in”. His fascination with storytelling coupled with his talent for drawing led him on a self-discovery journey that would ultimately diverge from the career path his parents had urged him to pursue.
In this episode, Dan (The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, Are We There Yet, The Aquanaut) talks about the freedoms and limitations of growing up in the 80s, and how they helped him discover a passion for storytelling as a means of communicating. He also shares his experience of embracing art, despite his parents' differing expectations, and how his journey has impacted the messages he imparts to the youth around him today.
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In his reading challenge,
Profound Panels, Dan wants listeners to embrace the hidden wisdom in the medium that first sparked his love of storytelling: comics.
This week's Beanstack featured librarian is Connie Sharp, the Librarian Training and Development Specialist for Metro Nashville Public Schools. As a former elementary librarian, Connie has a unique perspective to share and talked with us about the importance of the partnership between administrators and librarians.
Contents
- Chapter 1 - Thai in SoCal
- Chapter 2 - Crime Fighting (vehicle here)
- Chapter 3 - The Trial and Death of Socrates
- Chapter 4 - A Book About Dan
- Chapter 5 - Passing on Heritage (and Advice)
- Chapter 6 - A Storyteller’s Legacy
- Chapter 7 - Reading Challenge
- Chapter 8 - Beanstack Featured Librarian
Author Reading Challenge
Download the free reading challenge worksheet, or view the challenge materials on our helpdesk.
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