January 27, 2004
"Making Stories"
Interesting review from the Guardian with relevance to lifelog research:
"According to the distinguished psychologist and psychiatrist Jerry Bruner, "self is a perpetually rewritten story". We are all constantly engaged in "self-making narrative" and "in the end we become the autobiographical narratives by which we 'tell about' our lives"."
The idea of the self as something wholly constructed out of the narratives we create about our lives has become a staple across the humanities. But it's utter nonsense, says Galen Strawson, considering Making Stories by Jerome Bruner.
Comments
Strawson has some very good points. I believe "reality TV" shows are a perfect example of the destructive force of the self-narrative. I recently attended a panel discussing the lives of several contestants participating in shows like "Survivor". There was an overwhelming narcissism, induced by their newly defined self-narrative. Most defined the success of their lives based on "how my story ends". It was enlightening but disturbing to see that they could no longer separate their lives from broadcast fiction.
Posted by: Andrew at January 28, 2004 08:45 AM
