1. The Narrative Paradigm (Walter Fisher)
COM 452
Summer, 2010

2. Narrative Paradigm – Walter Fisher
Persuasion is best perceived as good reasons which provide compelling stories rather than as the compilation of evidence, rationality and/or logic
Departure from the rational world paradigm

3. Defining the Terms
Narration = symbolic actions that have sequence and meaning for those who create and use them
Paradigm = conceptual framework

4. Rational-world paradigm:
People are essentially rational
We make decisions on the basis of arguments
The type of situation determines the course of our argument
Rationality is determined by how much we know and how well we argue
The world is a set of logical puzzles that we can solve through rational analysis.

5. Narrative paradigm People are essentially storytellers
We make decisions on the basis of good reasons, which vary depending on the communication situation, media, and genre (philosophical, technical, rhetorical, or artistic)
History, biography, culture, and character determine what we consider good reasons
Narrative rationality is determined by the coherence and fidelity of our stories
The world is a set of stories from which we choose, and thus constantly re-create, our lives.

6. Narrative Rationality: Coherence and Fidelity
Does the story hang together?
Is it probable?
Consistent with others with similar themes?
Characters act in reliable manner?
Fidelity
Does the story ring true with our experiences?
Does it provide “good reasons” based on our value-related issues?

7. Critique: Does Fisher’s story have coherence and fidelity?
Reworks Aristotelian analysis so that receiver doesn’t need to be an expert to believe story
Principles of narrative coherence and fidelity can be used to analyze various types of communication, which provides strong evidence of their validity
Overly optimistic that people prefer the true and the just – e.g., does not explain exceptions such as Hitler’s stories
Stories promoting the status quo may have undue influence and oppressive power