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Image of McLeod, J., Narrative and Psychotherapy

McLeod, John, 1997. 'Narrative Knowing: The Nature and Function of Storytelling in Therapy' in Narrative and Psychotherapy, London: Sage

Story as a way of understanding the world

Here are some key points from the chapter on 'Narrative Knowing':

* Narrative is a window onto the story-teller’s landscape of consciousness
* We all have a kind of personal myth
* We are made up of a community of selves
* Narrative has sequentiality which implies a future
* Narratives help us to reconcile the ‘exceptional’ and the ‘expected’
* The re-telling of stories is a problem-solving technique
* Narratives have morals
* Narratives are always socially constructed
* Narratives are liminal
* Narratives are ambiguous
* Narrative is cathartic
* Our ongoing personal narratives are co-constructed
* Narratives often arise around sites of social conflict

Note posted by: joe soap, the hopeless hobo on Tue 17 Feb 09

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Image of Propp, V. J., Morphology of the Folktale

Propp, Vladimir J., 1968. Morphology of the Folktale, Texas: University of Texas Press

Excellent for structuralist theory

This book attempts to work out the underlying structural patterns of Russian folktales, and how their elements can be re-ordered, multiplied and complicated – finding a syntax for storytelling. Without an accompanying book of translated folktales it can be a little confusing to follow at times, and Propp’s explanations can seem laboured and slightly convoluted, but once you grasp his logic and style they’re thorough, comprehensive and convincing.

Note posted by: Kriztov on Wed 28 Nov 07

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Image of Ken, P., Telling sexual stories : power, change and social worlds

Ken, Plummer, 1995. Telling sexual stories : power, change and social worlds, London: Routledge

The Potential for New Communities

‘‘The first zone of intimate citizenship hence centres around new personal narrative stories of living together. Hearing the tales of lone mothers and fathers, step-children, being single, divorcees, new couples, serial relationships, etc. will all help clarify the domain of rights and obligations in new communities living together.’’ p.153

Plummer's inherently simple point is that our actual behaviour (and the stories that express this), as opposed to how we are expected to live, can open up space for new communities and ways of life.

The ideas expressed in this book are central to that of my dissertation when applied to the stories told in film.

Note posted by: yoghurt on Sun 25 Nov 07

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Image of Gauntlett, D., Media, Gender and Identity: An Introduction

Gauntlett, David, 2002. Media, Gender and Identity: An Introduction, London: Routledge, p91-115

Giddens, Modernity and Self-Identity

''What to do? How to act? Who to be? These are focal questions for everyone living in circumstances of late modernity - and ones which, on some level or another, all of us answer, either discursively or through day to day social behaviour. (Giddens 1991:70)'' p97

''The existential nature of self-identity is bound up with the fragile nature of the biography which the individual 'supplies' about herself'' p99

Gauntlett sums up Anthony Giddens' ideas on 'structuration', 'the reflexive project of the self', the democratised 'pure relationship' and the 'circumstances of modernity, all in an easy to read fashion. A great introduction.

Instrumental in anchoring the ideas central to my dissertation such as the relationship between narrative and identity and the resultant power of intimate actions on greater structures.

Note posted by: yoghurt on Fri 23 Nov 07

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Image of Herman, D. (ed.), Narrative Theory and the Cognitive Sciences

Herman, David (ed.), 2003. Narrative Theory and the Cognitive Sciences, Stanford, California: University Presses Marketing, p163-192

Studies of narrative function in therapy

''Jerome Bruner (1991) developed a synoptic account of how narrative 'operates as an instrument of mind in the construction of reality' (6).'' p163

Mostly concerned with the uses of narrative in therapy but with some useful sources of the power of storytelling generally.

Note posted by: yoghurt on Fri 23 Nov 07

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McLeod, John, 1997. Narrative and Psychotherapy, London: Sage, p1-53

Storytelling's role in culture

''the task of being a person in a culture involves creating a satisfactory enough alignment between individual experience and 'the story of which i find myself a part'.'' p27

Through an examination of how stories function within the traditional, modern and postmodern ages, conclusions are drawn on the power of narrative in establishing identity within societies.

Very useful in examining traditional uses of stories as well as their continuing relevance in the contemporary world.

Note posted by: yoghurt on Fri 23 Nov 07

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