Theories of Communication: Narrative Theory

In other spoken conference, lecture office in self- annalss accurately reflects benevolent personality. According to communication theorist Walter fisher, military man ar natural toshtellers (1978, 1984, and 1987). We continu in ally weave discrete hithertots and fucks together into tenacious wholes that rich person all the features of stories a plot characters activeness a season of beginning, middle and end and a climax. 1. 1. 1 news show report Paradigm Narrative range is a concept in communication conjecture and was true by Walter Fisher. The concept is adopted from the oldest var. of communication invoice telling.He express that all meaningful communication is in the division of news reporttelling. Calling his possibleness tale paradigm, Fisher defined narration as symbolic actions- words and/or deeds that stir sequence and meaning for those who live, create or interpret them (1987, p. 58). Fishers claimed that narrations abound in e realday life. Yo u go to a mosque, church building or temple, and a religious leader tells stories. Lawyers too tells stories when they let place Jurors enumerates of what happened and why and who is to blame (Burner, 2002).Peoples past experiences influence our invite for communication and besides topic our behavior. Thus floor paradigm is very helpful in analyzing the personality of clement communication. 1. 1. 2 Good Reasoning In western cultures, rationalness is considered extremely all-important(prenominal). We be taught to evaluate the worth of ideas and arguments by Judging how practically evidence is provided. Fisher thought the Western emphasis on virtuous logical system and ceremonious tenability was excessive. He also thought that logic or strictly rational thinking do not forever explain why we believe what we do.In his current statement just about register surmise, Fisher (1978) claimed that telling have base is to a greater extent persuasive than cads of statistic s, respectable testimony, and logical deduction. People be basically story telling worlds. We make headway stopping points and form beliefs on the basis of serious reasons. We consider a good reason depends on history, culture, personal character and biography. Narrative tenability is evaluated by the coherence and fidelity of stories. Life is a set of stories in choosing to turn out most stories to reject others, we continuously re-create our lives and ourselves. 1. 1. Narrative Rationality, Coherence and fidelity To answer reservations that the narrative paradigm provided no standards for judging the quality of several(a) stories, Fisher presented the concept of narrative rationality. He claimed that not all stories argon equally compelling that is not all stories have the uniform military unit to gain our belief. We Judge stories on the basis of a distinctively narrative form of rationality, which Fisher saw as quite several(predicate) from conventional criteria of rationality. Fisher identified cardinal standards for assessing narrative rationality, which is coherence and fidelity.Coherence refers to formal features of story conceived as a discrete sequence of thought and or action in life or literature ( any recorded or written form of discourse) e. It concerns the question of whether or not a story coheres or hangs together whether or not the story is free of contradiction in termss. In a story, we prove how the story strings together, how probable the story seems, ar the important elaborate included, is it free from contradictions, how does it comparison with other stories, and do characters behave/think agreeablely.How do you decide whether the story makes backbone? Fisher declargoned that we first ask whether a story has internal coherence. We Judge whether the storyteller has told us all of the important details so that the out advance is credible. The way we assess coherence is to compare a specific story we are told with oth er stories about the same or similar situations, events and so forth. Fishers (1987) second standard for narrative rationality is fidelity, which is defined as the extent to which a story resonates with listeners personal experience and beliefs.According to narrative theorists, we find stories believable when they are act as we do or as we would like to see ourselves acting. Fishers explains that the standard of fidelity contend Judging the set in narration. When we identify with a character, we regard her or his action as admirable, worthy, reasonable. When we accept a story as unbent and right, we Judge it to reflect the values in which we believes and the slipway of the world as we have experienced them 2.Weakness of the possibleness There are 3 study weaknesses that are comm totally being brought forth by other scholars and they are I) incomplete description I) Too broad iii) conservative bias Incomplete description Most scholar are skeptical that the theory could comprehe nsively decipher all forms of communication. One of the arguments are from Robert Roland(1989) that say that not all form of communication are narrative and do not seek to be. As an example, Robert highlighted that science fictions and science fantasy stories do not approach to make sense in term of most peoples experience and value.He stated that the main purpose of science fictions and science fantasy is to challenge predominant values, experience and ways of being in the world. In the perspective of communication, scholars have identify 2 types of communications that do not apply to the narrative theory. 1st, Kirkwood (1992) argues that Fishers view of narrative had failed to explain how stories create new possibilities, new meter reading of ourselves and social life. This is be causality like the story of Martin Luther King is out of the standard form of storyline among the people within that timeline in how they see themselves and how they are forecast to act. Andy, Jame s Cheeseboard (Bibb) believes that the theory are unpractical to the exsert that if it is true it could cause harmful social consequences. For an example, the narratives of injustice and the right to revenge that are very common in most stories. Thus we could infer that assuming that the narrative theory is true it would incite riots and killing, thus it seem that Fisher did to account the impact of stories in developing new vision or how it would bring out harm.Too broad In establishing a communication theory, it is essential to create a distinguish it self from another. Thus when Fisher stated that all form of communication is a form of narrative thus he is simultaneously stating that everything and nothing in the same time. Such sweeping statement on the view of communication do not assist researchers, scholars and the general cosmos to identify the important distinction among the myriad forms of communication.Conservative Bias Finally the third base weakness that one could i dentify is that the theory is very insensitively bias. In the mise en scene of evaluating theory, conservative is referred to the preservation of existing or established values and practices thus repayable to that, concord to William Kirkwood (1992)Fishers idea of good reasons give privilege to prevailing value and attitude and focus less on to the ways in which stories hind end promote positive changes in the human condition.This contradiction can be seen in one of the narrative rational criteria of fidelity. Whereby in that location are cases of when even if the stories that we here resonates with the listeners personal experience and lives(Fisher 1987) but in truth even if it is consistent with our experience we tend to find virtually stories to be more credible from one to another. As an example, a picture entitled A Man Falls down and Cries for Help Twice. The irregular Time, My Jaw Drops. On the www. Purports. Mom shows a man wearing a hooded,pair of Jeans and a snow man lying down at a town determine calling for help, but after 45 minutes on that point was no one that came to assist disrespect of the large crowd passing through. This shows that despite of the general experience of being sick, and the general believe of doing DOD no one was convinced that the guy was sick or need any form of assistance. In addition to that, Kirkwood argues that this standard of Judgment encourage us to say only when what will square with the others experience and to avoid gainsay prevailing views, vale and the attitude quo in social life. . Strength of the theory There are 3 major strengths that are commonly being brought forth by other scholars and they are I) Heuristic Value it) close iii) Dynamism Heuristic Value Narrative theory is viewed as an original work of study that has a high value of evolve as it has provoke new perspective of communication, the reputation of reason and the bases of Judging rationality Narrative is considered to be a major ap proach to rhetorical reproval (Bureaucrat, 1995, p. 271).Within rhetorical studies, narrative has been theorized as a rhetorical paradigm, and has been used in the analysis of various case studies from the speeches of Ronald Reagan to the rhetoric of the American Civil Rights doing (Lewis, 1987 Sells, 2008). The concept of narration also has been said to compliment well with Aristotle old-fashioned treatise on rhetoric, ND it redefined as a primary component of a speech. In a section discussing the organization of speeches, Aristotle (2007) conceives of the narrative as the get down of the speech in which a speaker leads the audience through the facts of the speakers sheath or case (p. 38). The narrative section of the speech should vary jibe to the type of speech delivered. In an influential work, Fisher (1984) has argued that narrative is a fundamental paradigm of human communication. Under the narrative paradigm, human beings are defined by their usages as storytellers, an d narrative is a constitutive power of human constitution. According to Fisher (1984), rhetoric is communicated ultimately as stories meant to give order to human experience (p. 6).Furthermore, narrative can be conceived as an alternative to rationality as a way of understanding the world, and is more intuitive than reason because it does not need to be taught Fishers narrative paradigm has since been critiqued and expanded upon (for more on the narrative paradigm, see also Fisher, 1985 Fisher, 1989). sordid Due to the simplistic nature of the theory that uses a limited function of concepts to explain communication, the theory had multiple applications in different fields.Narrative has been studied in fields such as rhetoric, literary theory, philosophy, history (see for example White, 1980), psychology, governmental communication, journalism, studies of folklore, persuasion theory, media studies rhetorical studies, and political communication. In communication, scholars have s tudied narratives role in politics and their use in news media. For example, Bennett & Delano (1985) present a pessimistic view of political narrative, arguing that narratives transmitted through batch media act as barriers to solving social problems by casting insurance issues in simplistic, ideological terms (p. 8). For Bennett & Delano (1985), the power of narratives to label political participants as heroes or villains or deserving or undeserving create unrestricted policies that are rationalized by the construction of social problems for which they become solutions (p. 159). Other scholars have also examined the ways in which Journalists use narratives in the construction of news content (see for example Lull, 2001, p. 11-26 Gangs, 1979, p. 78-115) Dynamism The theory is very dynamic to the extend where it could evolve and compliment in any form or context in the view of life .Fisher had rebutted the idea of how his theory could and would maintain the status quo. In his criti cal article in 1987, Fisher stated human beings are wonderfully creative and imaginative beings. Thus he claims that we are able to invent and accepts new stories when they are better explained or go a better direction for future living than the stories had studyd and believed. This is turn out in the case of Hill vs. Thomas. During and immediately after the court hearing, the subject field jacket crowns reported that a majority of those polled had thought that Thomas story to be more credible than the one told by Anita Hill.However, a social class after the hearings, when the people thought more about it, the majority of that poll has shifted their votes toward Anita Hills account. This shows that prone time to consider and weigh of both stories, people could come to believe one that initially they had found privation of credibility. This shift suggest that fidelity ,may not be fixed at a morsel but may shift in response to additional experiences and or reflection. 4. Exam ples f the theory 4. An article about narrative theory http//www. merchandises. Co. UK/trends/ trade name-storytelling-narrative-theory/ 4007279. member The Marketing week has made a cover on application, potential ND importance of The narrative Theory in delivering an effective stigma image building. In the article Jonathan Bacon stated that Storytelling, or providing consistent and compelling content to build a picture of a company, is becoming more important as people scrutinize brands and businesses. A research through by Monopole which was commissioned by brand storytelling agency Aesop attempts to define storytelling according to 10 criteria, including whether brands have a clear sense of purpose, whether consumers are intrigued to see what theyll do next and whether those brands create their own world. more than 1,500 1-J adults were asked to rate 100 major brands against these criteria before Monopole used the responses to compile a 81st of the best storytelling brands. The following are the results of the research.Thus we could conclude that a good brand story is important and this is supported by Deed Woodcock, strategy theatre director and co-founder of Aesop which believes that a transparent and famous goal is paramount too believable brand story as an example, he state that Apples top be is the result of its almost evangelical commitment to creating technology that improves peoples lives and the clarity with which it tells that story. Its sense of mission manifests itself in everything it does from the design of its products and stores to the simplicity of its advertising, he says.Apple is currently racecourse a campaign using long copy to explain the story behind its products. Woodcock commented that in the cases of utility firms, the ineffectiveness of their branding strategy is due to poor marketing or bad publicity. Even though utilities could be said to have a noble mission, perhaps the story the consumer tends to hear is fat cat util ity rips off defenseless consumers, he says This is consistent to Fishers theory which stated that fidelity and coherence are crucial in evaluating a story.Thus a bad publicity would tainted the rationality of the theory, with even if it has good reasoning it is not consistent with how the general public compass these utility companies. Given the central role that storytelling plays in developing a brands identity, it is perhaps not surprising that the ranking is dominated by some of the worlds biggest brands, with Apple topping the list and other brands such as Coca-Cola, McDonalds and Heinz featuring in the top 10. But the study also offers an interesting insight into perceptions towards different industries.For example, while retail, food and drink and FMC brands fare particularly well in the rankings, brands in the utilities, financial services and automotive sectors are considered less mastermind at storytelling. The highest ranking financial services brand (Visa) is 30th out of 100, while the best storytelling bank or building society (Nationwide) is only 53rd. The top storytelling brand in the utilities sector comes 55th (British Gas) and the bottom quaternary-spot brands overall are all utilities, with Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) receiving the utmost ranking 4.Participation Observation & Interview SURVEY QUESTION ANALYSIS 4. 2. 1 Respondent background A survey was conducted on 21st of April 2014, at KILL cafe and the following are the backgrounds of our respondents. They are separated in two types of demographics which is local and international student of KILL. There are iv local students which is consist of 2 Malay, 1 Chinese, 1 Indian ,and at that place are six international students which is consist of two Indonesian students and four from Arab countries (3 Sudanese, 1 Nigerian ). They are ages group are ranging from 18- 25 geezerhood old.The survey was conduct by a face to face interview. . 2. 2 The Finding Overall during our survey, there were one main question that was cerebrate which is how does the general public of KILL student identify and rationalize a lie and it was found that 7 out of 10 respondent has given a response that is consistent with Fisher Narrative Rationality Criterion. Which are Fidelity and Coherence. This can be seen throughout respondent 4-10 whereby when ask about being be to all would have similar methodology of identifying a lie.Which are either through Fidelity Leg There were lack of details that was told (lack of value in narration), She use the lying that I also use to tell people (personal experience) or Coherence The story that the liar told me doesnt hang together (consist of contradiction). The flow of his story was not consisted with what I go to bed (Inconsistence in sequence) On the other hand, there are instances during our interviews that were not lay out with the Narrative Paradigm. By looking at the pace of his speech ( system language), He acted inculpative (body l anguage+ personal experience) He confess it by himself 4. . 3 summary It can be concluded that in general, Fishers Narrative Paradigm theory is applicable to the masses to KILL student but to a supply extend. As what has been found via the analysis above there are a few findings that shows that there are some of the general student that do not Judge reason only from the sequence of a story and whether it make sense but they use other technicians like body language, analyzing body reaction, or some would retributory tell the respondent that they had lied previously.Which to a certain extend derailed from the perspective that Fisher had brought forth which is communication is a form of narration that all forms of human communication need to be seen fundamentally as stories-?symbolic interpretations f aspects of the world occurring in time and shaped by history, culture, and character( Human Communication As Narration Toward a Philosophy of Reason, Value, and Action, Walter R. Fisher 1987) as for body language require a skill set and intuition rather than a layman interpretation off unconvincing story.Narrative theory by Walter Fisher is still applicable in this current society. There are certain people who usually talks to themselves but most of them are talk to other people and that makes them involve in becoming the narrator or a storyteller. Secondly, we make decisions on the basis of good reasoning or logic. When we deciding things in our life, we tend to think logically rather than Just Jump into it. In order to make a good decision in life, people will think logically especially in making decision. Fishers Narrative Paradigm is a very useful theory that explains one aspect of human nature.Fisher tells of how we are basically storytelling animals and how the receiver of the means Judges the credibility of the message due to its consistency or coherence. For example, when we ascertain sad and automatically our face will turn to something unpleasant. Sud denly there is someone notices the changes of our motions and he or she will automatically ask us about what happen and we explain it to them. The explanation done by us is what we call as narrative and this is what Fisher trying to explain that human is a natural storyteller.Nowadays the theory is most prevalent in marketing. Marketing executives are actively seeking to fulfill these two criteria to make their brand more appealing towards their customers. Even though there are only two criteria stated by Fisher, there are more criteria a person would Judge a person narrative, especially in two way communication. Thus, even though Fisher succeed to capture on why human is a storytelling species, it does not explain fully on the traits that an individual would Judge others in real life.In conclusion, narrative theory is applicable in the current society and it is present in our everyday life. 6. innuendo to improve the theory Our suggestions to improve this theory so that it is appl icable in current society are to narrow down the scope of the theory. dickens major check of narrative theory is it could not comprehensively describe all forms of communication and the broadness of the theory. This problem can be avoided by narrowing down the scope of which narrative theory can cover.This meant that narrative theory needs to specify what type of communication it should represent. Another criticism faced by narrative theory is conservative bias. This criticism the nature of theory that conclude that human beings have a set of template on how they would respond to a specific conditions. Responding into this criticism, narrative theory needs to acknowledge that a person acceptance of a narrative can change overtime. This way, narrative theory can accommodate the flexible nature of human being.