Writer Joan Didion says that "We tell ourselves stories in order to live." Through stories, we share and learn from experiences, we attempt to explain things we don't understand, we amuse ourselves, and we remind each other of what we value. When paired with music, visual, and dramatic arts, storytelling becomes a transcendent emotional experience for both performers and audience members. In this unit, you will learn about how music shapes three primary storytelling media: opera, musical theatre, and film.