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. 

[shlomosimpser]

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.

[checkpng]

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

[nishify]

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

[jivanatman]

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

[fieldgoalfootball]

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

[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!

[esmeraldaperez]

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

[elizabethcampbell]

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

[wafazekri]

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.

[jax]

Assignments aside this is a great talk

[Al-mxnd]

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!

[billint]

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

[gRaCiLa]

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.

[minakelly]

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

[KhietLe-ezpv]

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

[Call_Jit]

POV:your here cause of personal narrative

[hannahcromar]

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

[arlinegeorge]

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

[EmilyAndersonHQ]

This was so good, thank you for speaking!

[tammylombard]

Something to think about. Very good, TEDtalk.