Narrative Paradigm Overview

Study Notes

Narrative Paradigm Overview

Developed by Walter Fisher, the narrative paradigm views storytelling as the foundation of human communication.
It proposes that all communication can be understood as narratives.

Key Concepts

Narrative: Represents the idea that all forms of communication are structured as stories.
Phatic Communication: Focuses on maintaining relationships rather than conveying new information, highlighting that most communication is narrative in nature.

Theoretical Definitions

Narration: Defined as symbolic actions (words and/or deeds) that possess sequence and meaning for those involved.
Paradigm: A universal model for interpretation, combining the concepts of narrative (story) and paradigm (accepted framework).

Deeper Insights

Narrative Paradigm: A comprehensive lens to understand communication involving the creation, composition, adaptation, presentation, and reception of symbolic messages.
Differentiates itself from the rational-world paradigm, which assumes logical decision-making based solely on evidence.

Rational-World Paradigm vs Narrative Paradigm

Rational-World Paradigm: Assumes people are rational and decisions are based on logical arguments.
- Assumes essential rationality in people.
- Decisions are made based on argumentation across different speaking situations.
- Emphasizes logical analysis to solve problems.

Fisher's Assumptions About the Narrative Paradigm

People are inherently storytellers, making choices based on varied good reasons depending on context.
Personal history, culture, and character shape perceptions of good reasoning.
Narrative rationality is assessed through the coherence and fidelity of stories.
Life is experienced as a collection of stories that we choose from and re-create continuously.

Distinctions Between Paradigms

Narrative paradigm integrates values and emotions, unlike the fact-focused rational world paradigm.
Aesthetics of communication play a critical role in the narrative paradigm; the appeal of a story matters.
The rational world paradigm posits that only experts can create meaningful arguments.

Narrative Rationality

Constructed from two main criteria: narrative coherence and narrative fidelity.
Narrative Coherence: Refers to internal consistency in storytelling, where characters behave reliably.
Narrative Fidelity: Measures how well the values in the story align with those perceived as truthful and humane by the audience.

Critique of Narrative Paradigm

Assumes that audiences will respond positively to stories that are truthful and resonate with shared values, which may not always hold true.

Description

Explore Walter Fisher's Narrative Paradigm, which posits that storytelling forms the basis of human communication. This quiz delves into key concepts like narration, narrative structure, and the role of phatic communication in relationships. Test your understanding of how narratives shape our interactions.