Do the Stories we Tell Actually Matter?
Last week I talked about a few of the differences between ethical and unethical storytelling. But does how we tell stories, and the kinds of stories we tell actually matter? Can the images and words we use actually cause harm or cultivate good? Yes, they can!
The stories we tell have real impact in the real world. Maybe you’ve encountered the impact of stories, perhaps without even realizing it. For example, have you ever heard stories about someone before you met them? Maybe someone new is moving into your neighborhood, or joining your class at school, or starting at your workplace. Perhaps you’ve only heard negative things about this person: that they’re rude or mean or disruptive. You might not look forward to having them in your life, and find it hard to welcome them. But if you’ve heard positive things about this person: that they’re kind and fun to be around, you might be excited to welcome them, and look forward to becoming their friend. The kinds of stories you’ve heard have shaped your perception of the person, before you even met them. And your perception might influence your behavior.
One of my favorite TED Talks is by a Nigerian novelist named Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. In her talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” she shares how stories can impact how we view entire people groups. I consider this talk essential viewing:
The stories we hear impact how we think about a particular place and the people who live there. If the only stories we hear about Africa, for example, are stories of poverty, famine, and war, we might think that Africa is only poverty, famine, or war. Ngozi Adichie says that “The consequence of the single story is this: it robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different rather than how we are similar.”
We want to tell stories that emphasize our equal humanity. The way we view people matters, and can impact our behavior, on an individual and societal level. We’ll talk more about that in my next post!
