The Many Forms of Narrative

A narrative is the telling or representation of a story from one person, the narrator, to another, the narratee. While the word narrative may have several definitions, depending on who is defining it, its relevance and value in society cannot be understated: “Moreover, in this infinite variety of forms, it [narrative] is present in all times, in all societies; indeed narrative starts with the very history of mankind; there is not, there has never been anywhere; any people without narrative” (Barthes, 237). [1] The means through which narrative is communicated to people across the world is significant. Pictures, movies, local news, conversation, and gestures are just a few examples of the ways through which narrative is communicated. [2]

Everyone is involved with narrative to some extent: “We speak of a gift for telling stories. But as true as it is that narrative can be an art and that art thrives on narrative, narrative is also something we engage in, artists and non-artists alike. We make narratives many times a day, every day of our lives” (Abbott, 1). [3] Seeing as we are engaged in the skill of narrative on a daily basis, it seems we have become so accustomed to narrative that we sometimes forget that we are even involved in it. The amount of narrative within the cyber has increased significantly throughout the years, as the internet has become more and more accessible to people around the world. Within the cyber, the concept of narrative is virtually the same, although it is done through a different means. When storytelling through the cyber, you may initially have an intended audience, but anyone can be on the receiving end of your narrative. In comparison to narrative through means of conversation with someone face-to-face, the way you go about your storytelling will be vastly different than within the cyber.

[1] Bathes, Roland. “An introduction to the Structural Analysis of Narrative”. Volume 6, No.2 (1975), pg. 237. Print.

[2] Barthes, Roland. “An introduction to the Structural Analysis of Narrative”. Volume 6, No.2 (1975), pg. 237. Print.

[3] Abbott, H. Porter. “The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative”. Pg. 1. Print.