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The Narrative Paradigm (Walter Fisher)

The Narrative Paradigm (Walter Fisher). COM 452 Summer, 2010. Narrative Paradigm – Walter Fisher. Persuasion is best perceived as good reasons which provide compelling stories rather than as the compilation of evidence, rationality and/or logic Departure from the rational world paradigm.

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The Narrative Paradigm (Walter Fisher)

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  1. The Narrative Paradigm(Walter Fisher) COM 452 Summer, 2010

  2. Narrative Paradigm – Walter Fisher • Persuasion is best perceived as good reasons which provide compelling stories rather than as the compilation of evidence, rationality and/or logic • Departure from the rational world paradigm

  3. Defining the Terms • Narration = symbolic actions that have sequence and meaning for those who create and use them • Paradigm = conceptual framework

  4. Rational-world paradigm: • People are essentially rational • We make decisions on the basis of arguments • The type of situation determines the course of our argument • Rationality is determined by how much we know and how well we argue • The world is a set of logical puzzles that we can solve through rational analysis.

  5. Narrative paradigm • People are essentially storytellers • We make decisions on the basis of good reasons, which vary depending on the communication situation, media, and genre (philosophical, technical, rhetorical, or artistic) • History, biography, culture, and character determine what we consider good reasons • Narrative rationality is determined by the coherence and fidelity of our stories • The world is a set of stories from which we choose, and thus constantly re-create, our lives.

  6. Narrative Rationality: Coherence and Fidelity • Coherence • Does the story hang together? • Is it probable? • Consistent with others with similar themes? • Characters act in reliable manner? • Fidelity • Does the story ring true with our experiences? • Does it provide “good reasons” based on our value-related issues?

  7. Critique: Does Fisher’s story have coherence and fidelity? • Reworks Aristotelian analysis so that receiver doesn’t need to be an expert to believe story • Principles of narrative coherence and fidelity can be used to analyze various types of communication, which provides strong evidence of their validity • Overly optimistic that people prefer the true and the just – e.g., does not explain exceptions such as Hitler’s stories • Stories promoting the status quo may have undue influence and oppressive power

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