Nearly 5000 years ago, Sumerian storytellers
told ‘contest’ stories with passion, wit and amazing detail to
decide a ‘winner’ of imaginary contests. Who is the best? Winter
or Summer? Silver or Copper? Date Palm or Tamarisk Tree? Sheep
The workshop played with this ancient
story format. What is the best? The Car or the Train? The Shower
or the Bath? The Word-Processor or the Pen and Paper? Ocean or
Land? Man or Woman?
June Peters retold in
English the Sumerian contest story called The Bird and the
Fish. Tara Jaff sang a Sumerian poem of praise to the
Mesopotamian goddess Inana accompanied by harp music. People
supported the singing with a chant.