The Power of Personal Narrative | J. Christian Jensen | TEDxBYU

Narrative is one of the most powerfully motivating human forces. Filmmaker J. Christian Jensen reveals how the same emotional forces that thrust us forward in a good film can propel us to do remarkable things. Illustrated by scenes from his Oscar nominated documentary, White Earth, Jensen tells how to construct your own personal narrative to accomplish things no one else can.
J. Christian Jensen is a part-time educator and a full-time documentary filmmaker. He has spent his career immersed in the study and craft of filmmaking - devoting particular attention to the ways that personal tensions can be used to create powerful, authentic stories.
Jensen believes that storytelling can be an incredible force to bridge gaps between opposing beliefs and ideas, and as such he uses filmmaking to explore tensions between things like political ideology, science, religion, modernization, and traditional values.
Jensen’s recent film, White Earth (2014), is a true tale of a North American oil boom seen through unexpected eyes. Three children and an immigrant mother brave a cruel winter and explore themes of innocence, home and the American Dream.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

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POV: You're here for an assignment about personal narrative

[@uchihamp4245]

yup its annoying ion get it

[@nishify]

yes

[@jasonconyers9958]

POV: You went to the comments for help, and instead found other struggling students

[@uchihamp4245]

@@jasonconyers9958 it was stressful the comments saved my life lmao.

[@rgshawn4612]

@@jasonconyers9958 facts lol

[@shlomosimpser824]

His 3 Points to construct a Personal Narrative. 1. Find your Marks. And own them. Read your journals if you have them. Do a self-inventory. Understand things that moved you. Things that led you to feel angry, upset, traumatized, hurt. 2. Tell personal & family stories. Children who know their family stories and history, as well as their own personal stories, have a stronger sense of control and self-esteem in their lives. They also have a higher resiliency to stress. 3. Find your mentors. Connect to people who inspire you. For all those who are watching this video for a course. You're welcome.

[@ryudex3705]

somebody get this guy a medal

[@twitchkitty1]

Thanks this is awesome 👌

[@shlomosimpser824]

@@ryudex3705 A nobel peace award will suffice.

[@clovis8473]

thank you!

[@Sfinks_bez_zagadki]

Thanks a lot! U r my hero!

[@nishify]

So glad to see other students also having this as an assignment.

[@fieldgoalfootball3207]

POV: your teacher is making you watch this video for a narrative assignment, I am currently in class

[@jivanatman4682]

"How will you use the power of your own personal narrative to accomplish things that no one else can?" -- beautiful

[@toakasi6425]

Jivan Atman yes !!!

[@esmeraldaperez3908]

I have this assignment to do now, as in now it's due at 11 and it's already 10:35. I'm crying okay

[@yahdayah1410]

Lmao rip

[@alyamohmmed2566]

LMAO SAME

[@spacecruisers]

It's weird seeing someone who lived a few houses up the street from me growing up speaking in a TED talk! White Earth was so good, highly recommend giving it a watch, and Christian if you're reading this, nice work!

[@xelamercedes]

??? How is it weird?

[@daniaflores8013]

Because it’s not very often that you live in the same street as a TED speaker. Duh

[@elizabethcampbell2577]

Amazing! I watched it twice, took notes, and plan to use what I have learned in my classroom. Thank you! So grateful.

[@wafazekri9119]

This is still powerful I watched this in 2017, and o keep going back to it. I use it for teaching narrative writing. Thank you.

[@gratitute1]

Thank you. Great talk.

[@suciarthyaralarasati6720]

Thank you very much!

[@tammylombard]

Something to think about. Very good, TEDtalk.

[@rawdhaaaa]

Thank you

[@gRaCi3La89]

This is incredible; so many powerful points. And now I want to watch the documentary! I don't understand the 25 people who gave it a thumbs down.

[@billi8nt928]

PLEASE HELP ME!! MY TEACHER GAVE ME AN ASSIGNMENT ON THIS AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING

[@celinesebastian2565]

SAME THIS MAKES NO SENSE

[@ingridleclerc3317]

He's saying to do your narrative. Write down childhood memories goods ones and the nightmares ones. How do these make you feel now. Do they hunt you how is these memories reflect on what you are now. And them write your future. Something fantastic, use imagination.

[@lilywillette6369]

Same!! I'm like low key panicking trying to figure this out.

[@bunto_boi4510]

i feel u bro

[@lil_top1762]

same bruh

[@schwarzsharon]

This was great. May use this in my writing class.

[@sonalvaru107]

Amazing❤

[@swiftwalker444]

Wise words. Thank you

[@bibichloe]

Amazing! Thank you!

[@ajithr1255]

10:02 this made me tear up!!!!

[@arlinegeorge6967]

Informative . Thank you, bless. All your dreams come true.

[@cyberacers]

It is so inspiring. Thank u

[@EmilyAndersonHQ]

This was so good, thank you for speaking!

[@KhietLe-ez1pv]

What advice does Mr.Jensen give in other to find our personal narrative?

[@minakelly4081]

Definitely the most powerful and moving TED talk I've seen thus far! Thank you.

[@carsonwerner]

Except for the quote that makes no sense...

[@CJ-zh3bb]

This is so inspiring

[@hannahcromar5102]

Is anyone else bugged that a teacher can pretty much force you to listen to a BYU TedTalk? Like I was excited and now I’m experiencing some PTSD and worried he’s going to start smacking his lips when he talks

[@Al-mx2nd]

Mr Christian Jensen is a very good narrator! I’ve just learned how to start my first class since 2011 thanks to him! Thank you!

[@ambianist1262]

We are storytellers

[@Call_Jit69]

POV:your here cause of personal narrative

[@vickytang]

i love this , some of the things he said hit home :(

[@BlessedEraProduction]

Listen to this while playing paradise by Anderson Rocio definitely hit a few nerves.

[@mattlonergan5642]

Shoutout anyone from Fallons class

[@juliacaron840]

lol

[@raresmircea]

I agree with personal, familial, ethnic and national stories making us resilient. But then again this are also the stories that make arab fundamentalists, nazis, russian patriots, white supremacists, so on and so forth. The small-minded the human the greater and more real his stories. Considering the kinds of stories and myths we have, if we insist in holding on to them perhaps we'll never get to taste the future. I respect my past and i want to know my past BUT precisely this past is telling me that i need to let it go and search for something new.

[@jasonkamau857]

who else is doing this for mr.mcpherson?

[@minecraftlover5640]

Shoutout to any one from spezzanos class 💀

[@celinesebastian2565]

8:33

[@cackleback2821]

So should I write my story or not?

[@jacktrow1]

+BendyBus Song Are you fucking kidding me. Why ask that question.. just fucking do it!!!

[@cackleback2821]

Jack Trowbridge Well I have started writing it. Got about 4 chapters in, didn't start at childhood, but when I read it, it doesn't even sound like my story even though what I wrote really happened. It's weird. I guess I will keep going with it. Thanks for the encouragement.

[@periteu]

BendyBus Song How do u divide your past narrative? childhood, highschool?

[@SerapioSergiovich]

Film with proper ideas.

[@lauragracella3439]

2020 here

[@peckchung1723]

McPherson Alex Caruso

[@llllllllllllllIIlIllIIllIIIIll]

they need better mics the lip smacking was driving me nuts

[@linaa3908]

hello from 2020

[@ilytrap6788]

my teacher gmfu makin me read this bs

[@carsonwerner]

Yeah that quote in the beginning almost made me barf... such bs

[@khalidhameed371]

uh. idk if this makes sence

[@wk3820]

Truth is objective, and "narratives" are only used by those with no character against those with no sense.

[@amysteriousdisease7168]

I don't understand, narratives use their past, present, and future experiences, their thoughts, lessons, and values to shape who they are, and all of those things shape their life story all by themselves. They have the most character, they look at their life, and the things that make them them, it's not just one thing but many. Truth, is some senses, are objective. But your personal truth, is your personal truth for you, and that is not objective

[@onespeedymexicanboi4183]

Whoever has Ms.Pena, bruh moment

[@timothyfitzgerald7394]

This dude says "you can do anything". Come on man. That's the biggest, vaguest, blanket statement anyone can make to a room full of people he doesn't even know. Haha, it's just such a preposterous thing to say. Come on dude, just next time...leave that statement out. The audience will be better for it. And so will you.

[@josuequintero-td5gh]

You clearly weren't paying attention because it was his mom who said that to him, and she said it in order to explain how not everyone has it as good as he does.

[@sandrasomo5319]

yall whats Somethin similar between filmmaking and writing.

[@Lionel760x]

kemarin saya ketaman, dan saya melihat ibu ibu, saya pikir dia goblok

[@PeymanAhmadpour]

This was quite shallow for the topic...

[@bradboss7762]

I can't believe that so many people sit there and listen to this guy blabbing nonsense.

[@patriley7039]

Zz

[@donovanmitchell5195]

@@Bruh-tr5lz I'm late but: Zz

[@bradboss7762]

Ican't stand listening to this guy boringly talking about something that I don't even care of.