The Interest in Narrations

Built into the definition of a narrative is the idea of an "exchange function," so much so that according to Ronald Barthes, a narrative ceases to exist without both a creator, the narrator, and just as significantly, a receiver (Barthes 260). The reason people invest the time to interpret and exchange narratives is for the mass culture, or "universal language;" as an act of exchanging and sharing stories among people of different nations, cultures, and social backgrounds (Keys 181).


As depicted in the Neda video and endowing articles, people want to feel connected to each other, and when narratives such as this one combine universally discussed issues such as homeland security, feminism, liberty, and freedom it grabs attention from all around the world (Fischer 10/28). Every day each person within a society is faced with an infinite number of narratives, and an even greater amount of ways they could be interpreted (Barthes 238). Thus, exposure to narratives is inevitable, but taking the time to interpret that narrative is a choice (Peterson 61).


Text, as the main method of narrative transmission, the understanding and interest of which is constituted by the text's relationship and relevance to the media, the person interpreting it, or an area of interest that the subject would otherwise not gain admission or knowledge (Peterson 63-64). People choose to interpret the narratives to which they are exposed when and if they can relate to them, or learn something new, or acquire a piece of useful information. In a transnational context, people want to feel connected through textual and experiential reference (Keys 188).


In summation, a narrative posts interest to its interpreter if it tells them something relatable to their life, something of relevance to society at large, something entertaining to their interests, or something obscure to which they would not otherwise be exposed.


Barthes, Roland|Duisit, Lionel. New Literary History Vol. 6, No. 2, On Narrative and Narratives. Pp 237-272. The Johns Hopkins University, 1975. Web.


Keys, Barbara J. Globalizing Sport: National Rivalry and International Community in the 1930s. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2006. Text.


Peterson, Mark Allen. Anthropology & Mass Communication: Media and Myth in the New Millenium. New York: Berghahn Books, 2003. Text.