We would simply be globalmedia, if it were not for "narratives."

A narrative is a story that is told to inform and describe an occurrence of events that have taken place. In order for people to want to take an interest in a narrative, it must describe something that is foreign to them. Marie-Laure Ryan describes what a narrative must entail when she says, “non habitual physical events…It must communicate something meaningful.” [1] People do not want to hear about something that they already know or something that they have heard a similar story about. In order for someone’s interest to be piqued, they must be introduced to an idea that they have never heard before and it must have an impact on them. Without meaning, what is a narrative?
Abbot voices an opinion on narratives by stating that, “it is hard to believe that the appetite for narrative is something we learn rather than something that is built into our genes.” [2] Although it seems second nature for us to find interest in narratives, it is because we have been taught ourselves how to interpret them. The reason why it is necessary to be taught the thirst for a narrative is because sometimes it is not easy to get a full grasp of. Narratives aren’t always delivered in text form. A picture can tell a story of events that occurred and brought about change in some aspect of life. It is not easy to just see something and automatically understand its importance, which is why we must believe that an appetite for narratives is to be taught.
Whether or not narratives provide interest to you, they are necessary and will always be an important aspect of life. Gaining knowledge from other’s first hand experiences is something that cannot be taken for granted. Events that take place that can’t be seen first hand need to be understood by experiencing them through someone else. Barthes states, “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.” [3] Not only does this notion of narratives apply to the past but it will be enforced in the future. There is no way around utilizing narratives and there is no reason to ever try to. Narratives provide us with information and experiences that we can not adequately provide for ourselves.


[1] Ryan, Marie-Laure: Avatar of Story (Electronic Mediations, Volume 17). London, Minneapolis: University of Minnestoa Press 2006, p. 98. Print.

[2] Abbott, H. (n.d.). The Cambridge introduction to narrative (Second ed., p. 3). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press

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