Narrative is a term that is used to refer to the structuring and telling of a story in one form or another. It refers to the device used by humans to transfer information from themselves to others. Abbott states that narrative is also used to explain the human understanding of time.[1] In this way, narrative creates a story developed around the passage of time, even in the case of still images. I suggest that because of this unique and powerful attribute, narrative is not only the telling of a story, but also the device by which humans morph the static into the fluid. Just as Abbott points out the creation of narrative that occurs naturally when individuals view still paintings, a similar process occurs when a person walks into a new area and assesses his surroundings. A narrative is immediately constructed to explain how the items surrounding him got in their current positions. Through narrative, people are able to view any static image and develop a chronological past leading to its current form.
[1] Abbott, H. Porter. The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative. Second Ed. Cambridge University press. Print.
I love when you state that "...narrative is not only the telling of a story, but also the device by which humans morph the static into the fluid." This is an excellent way to put it. This applies to any form of narrative, whether it's the retelling of an event that derives from straight facts, or interpreting a still painting. Each person's version of the narrative will vary.
ReplyDeleteWhen you say that "A narrative is immediately constructed to explain how the items surrounding him got in their current positions," it is very intriguing. It is very often that people can wonder who else has made an impact on a certain area or what people have walked the same path that you currently are. When you sit down at a concert or sporting event, it is amazing that so many other people have had that seat and their own experiences. A lot of times a venue is described as having a lot of history. When you talk about how certain items got in their current positions, it is a reminder of what has taken place in the past. That line is thoroughly accurate and overlooked.
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