There weren’t many things that made me more attentive to Julie Beck’s article “Life’s Stories,” but there are some ideas I found interesting. One of these ideas was the difference in story-telling and listening as we grow older. Younger kids just follow the plot; their young, it is harder for them to comprehend things. Older people can actually follow changes in character i.e. character development. I find this to be absolutely true, but the time frame is odd to me. Saying an 18-year-old would not appreciate Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton is dishonest. I, as being 18 at the time writing, have not read this book. However, I do believe people my age could find it to be a fabulous book.
Another point is about “redemption stories” and how not everyone can live that way. I don’t believe this to be true. In a person’s life that may not achieve a much better situation, but they can definitely work towards even a slightly better situation. It would be harder to do compared to the more “privileged,” but I believe it can be done, at least to some degree.
One of last points I found particularly interesting was about “highly generative people” and narcissists and their modes of story-telling. I believe stories should be told in a mode between these two. Generative people tend to tell stories about people who have helped them and narcissists tend to tell stories about themselves. I think a mix of these two is best because it shows that we can all use help but on the other hand we have to do things on our own as well.
Annotations:
I liked the comparison you made with the younger generation versus the older generation. As we grow older, we tend to look further in depth with new concepts that we are taught rather than looking at a “simplified big picture” when we’re young.
It’s difficult to compare who’s privileged just based on what they have today, you have to look at the life they were brought into.
I agree that stories should be blended with different styles of writing by incorporating our surroundings as well as our own perspectives
Anthony,
I’ve never quite heard someone phrase privilege this way: “It’s difficult to compare who’s privileged just based on what they have today, you have to look at the life they were brought into.” Thank you for the elegant phrasing.
Nick,
I like that you pushed back against some of the author’s assertions. I think critical thinking is so important! I, too, was curious about Beck’s reference to Ethan Frome. I read Frome as a high school freshman ( younger than 18) and found it relentlessly glum. (Beck’s essay made me want to revisit the book.) At the same time, however, I read and appreciated Don Quixote–which proves quite the character study. It’s usually wise to find sweeping statements suspect. I think you’re onto something.