Narratives

Question 1

Narrative definition

Answer 1

• We use stories to make sense and express what we experience. Storytelling can be a way to make sense of what happened to us and then share this with someone else.
• Plot, characters, sequence of events
• Symbolic actions that are put together in a sequence.
• We use this to put meaning into our world and share this meaning with others.

Question 2

Narration: Sense-making

Answer 2

When we hear stories we are making sense of what we have gone through in our lives

Question 3

Narration: Emotional Appeal

Answer 3

• Why narratives are powerful
• People are more likely to be compelled by a good story than statistics.
• Emotional reasoning can be more powerful than logical reasoning
• When we feel emotional connections with the storyteller, we are more likely to believe them

Question 4

Narration: Sociality

Answer 4

• Narratives are social & enhance social ability
• Narratives help us build and work through relationships
• Function to enhance relationships

Question 5

Narrative Rationality

Answer 5

Fisher’s term for what makes a good story

Question 6

Narrative Rationality: narrative coherence

Answer 6

• Question of whether all parts of the story line up and make sense together: plot, characters, narrative, conflict, etc.
• Does the structure of the story make sense?
• Are there sufficient details?
• Do the characters seem reliable?
• Are there any surprises or contradictions?

Question 7

Narrative Rationality: narrative fidelity

Answer 7

• How the story lines up with the audience’s beliefs, identity, and values
• This can be individual: Does the story make sense to me?
• Do the values presented line up with the intended audience?
• What is the argument?

Question 8

The Power of Narrative

Answer 8

• We turn to narrative when we have incoherent experiences.
  a) We can choose to narrate ourselves within dominant narratives.
  b) We can choose alternative narratives.
  c) We can invent new narratives.

Question 9

The Power of Narrative: Choosing to narrate ourselves within dominant narratives

Answer 9

• Dominant narratives= the narratives that already exist in society, which we hear over and over
• Ex: If you work hard enough you can achieve anything; Disney movies

Question 10

The Power of Narrative: Inventing new narratives

Answer 10

• Not as believable, not relying on cultural myths that audience is familiar with
• Promotes new ways of thinking within audience & new perspectives
• Can be powerful