The first StoryCorps I watched was titled, “What’s for Dinner?”, featuring a dialogue between husband and wife, Angela and George Yu. Together they conversed on the story of how they met as a recalled memory. The video started with some upbeat music (brassy sounds) presented with some notes for background on what the viewer was about to see. The music cuts out as soon as Angela begins to tell the story. I found the notes for background information beneficial to the story, because she does just jump right in without much context. After they share their story, the music picks up again and credits roll. The music choice at the beginning reminded me of the opening to a musical as it sounds very presentational with lots of brass instruments. The ending credits music, is different than the beginning with piano sounds and has more conclusive notes while remaining upbeat. It fades out as the video ends.
The storytelling itself is very conversational. It is almost as if the viewer is sitting with the couple recalling a moment in their lives. I found the title fitting, because it feels like a conversation that would be told at a dinner party. George asks questions, veering from the story, but Angela brings it back to the point of the story. George’s interjections, although distracting from the story itself, arguably reveal more about the nature of their relationship. His questions cause Angela to laugh and there is certainly more personality that shines through.
The next story I watched was called, “Meet the Greenbergs.” Coincidentally, it starts with the same presentational music and introductory notes as “What’s for Dinner?” This StoryCorps is more of an interview between a mother and daughter. Laura, the mother, explains to her daughter, Rebecca, details of her family life in 1950s Queens, New York. She claims these details were abnormal and atypical to “normal families.” In my opinion, no family is alike, and no one really knows what a family is like behind closed doors. There are certainly weird aspects of everybody’s home lives. Despite this opinion, I do see how her daughter would find her story interesting.
Rebecca interjects a little, with questions to guide and move Laura’s storytelling along. She provides more direction and helps the story conclude with more purpose, as it is revealed she is named after her grandmother. This leaves the viewer with a more sentimental feeling in the end. As I pointed out earlier, music is played in the beginning, but also picks up again at the end of the video, while credits play. It is not the same credits music that plays in “What’s for dinner?” but more guitar sounding or string music. This music fades out rather abruptly as the video ends.