The power of storytelling
And being a critical consumer
Stories are an integral part of human existence. They play a pivotal role in shaping cultures, transmitting knowledge and connecting people across time and space. When we share our own stories with others, we create a stronger sense of self and build connections.
And stories can be the vessels that carry the collective wisdom, values and traditions of societies across generations.
Stories can transport us into the minds and experiences of others, fostering empathy and understanding and offering insight into different perspectives and world views.
Stories can help bridge gaps between people of diverse backgrounds, helping to foster tolerance and acceptance.
Stories can motivate and inspire. They can compel people to strive - to overcome adversity, achieve greatness and pursue dreams.
Stories can remind us of our shared humanity. They are the threads that weave together the fabrics of our worlds.
Stories can shape our identities. From the stories parents tell children to the stories of our cultural heritage, stories help us understand who we are and where we come from.
And stories can be used against us.
Stories can used to manipulate opinion and to advance specific agendas. They can be used to control and influence people’s beliefs and actions through the spread of false and misleading information.
Stories can be used to stir negative emotions - promote hatred, discrimination and violence, war - against individuals, groups, ethnicities, genders, states…
Stories can be used to dehumanize others. They can be used to motivate others into negative action. They can be used to justify mistreatment, violence - even genocide. Portraying others as subhuman or evil can make some people more inclined to support or participate in acts of cruelty.
Stories can be used to create a sense of dependency, isolation, unwavering loyalty. Charismatic leaders, authoritarian ideologies can use stories to manipulate and control.
Stories can be used to make individuals doubt their own perceptions and memories, even their own sanity, gaslighting people through a form of psychological manipulation and control.
Stories can be used to exploit others - scams, fraud, recruitment - by offering narratives filled with dreams and hopes for false opportunities and benefits.
Stories can be used to divide, driving wedges between individuals and groups - exacerbating conflicts and deepening social rifts. They can be made to perpetuate stereotypes, create hostility and block efforts to build stronger cultures, transmit knowledge and connect people through fostered understanding and reconciliation.
Knowing - really knowing - how to be a critical consumer of stories has always been a challenge. Few would argue that today, the ability to recognize manipulation, fraud - and the genuine article - is an ever more vital skill that each and every one of us needs.
What are these skills? How do we learn them? Indeed, how are they valued? How are they tested? How can they be taught to others?
This newsletter is an exploration of how we can answer these questions.