New stories of power that matter
coconut-thinking.com
New stories of power that matter
when one story dominates, it risks exterminating others or doesn’t do justice to the reality it presumes to narrate. Storytelling, like ecosystems, needs diversity to thrive. And since stories have a direct impact on reality — to the point that we often mistake one for the other — we need to tell stories that enliven, provide solace, and inspire... See more
Niels Devisscher • Belonging and Butterflies in Times of Breakdown
The climate crisis and the Anthropocene have made it clear that our old stories – often fixated on human heroes conquering nature or extracting resources – are inadequate. We need narratives that foreground entanglement: the interdependence of humans, non-human creatures, and the Earth itself.
The story also acts as a conduit of information, wisdom, and values around which people can unite. In this sense, a story creates coherence. It takes disparate and confusing elements and integrates them into a meaningful plot. It turns a problem into a mission and moves us through a series of events towards redemption.