Why do we create stories, and what function do they have in our lives?
We make up stories of all kinds. We create stories when we are awake, when we sleep, and when we daydream. Stories are everywhere. Just think how we try to explain our past: as historians and archaeologists piece together clues to create stories, which include distortions and omissions. The author argues that history might be closer to myths than a recollection of the actual past. And what about ancient myths and legends. How and why were they created? Why did our ancestors sit around fire to tell each other stories?
Think about the enormous body of fictional literature that we have and the millions of people who read and love them.
In this book Gottschall introdues the concept of the storytelling mind and presents some literary, psychological and evolutionary perspectives to explain why we evolved to love stories, why and how the brain creates stories and how they affect us.
My personal takeaway is that evolution designed our minds to enjoy stories because stories help us to put some order in our lives and in the views of the world in which we live. With stories,we can explain why things are the way they are. It doesn't matter if they are actually true or scientific facts. What's important in stories is that they give us meaning. Gottshall follows this line of reasoning in chapter 6 to discuss religion. He says:
"Religion is the ultimate expression of story's dominion over our minds."
Another interesting perspective is that stories help us get ready for life. Stories can affect us mentally as well as physically. In that sense, they help us practice skills for human social life. A good example is children's play.
Recommend.
No comments:
Post a Comment