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| "What Greets the Eye When You Look Back at the Pilot" (1918) by Frank Johnston |
Do you think the same thing might be said about texts that are not fictional? In other words, when we read or listen to essays, sermons, opinion pieces, or non-fiction books like this one, are we also seeing what it might be like to think in a different way than we currently do?
If you let someone articulate his or her theory of the world, and you listen to them--read what they have written, are you essentially climbing into a mental flight simulator? If so, might this be a dangerous thing?
Yes. I believe that nonfiction can be as much a learning experience as fiction. Although nonfiction may not project one into the life and time of the person in the story, nevertheless it can have an equal effect. When we read a new story or face a new situation, we bring to that reading or actual experience the sum of our previous stories, read or experienced. Each new story or experience has something to teach us, or to show us. The new may be in sharp contrast to past experiences, and the learning experience may change our opinion or life direction. On the other hand the information may reinforce our previous opinions and experiences. Non fiction as well as fiction makes an imprint, whether in our conscious or in our unconscious mind It becomes part of our experience. All experience, whether physical or vicarious, has an impact. Listening to another person articulate their different perspective on the world can be as enlightening as travel to that distant place. The person may show a different way of facing a situation. Whether or not this would be a dangerous situation would depend entirely on all the other factors in one's environment, meaning previous experiences.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ruth's answer. Nonfiction is as much of a story as fiction is because (as we read in last summer's assignment) everyone experiences and remembers things differently. One thing I enjoy is discussing with people their opinion on certain subjects. More often than not, I find that people who claim to have the same experience or belief will actually have entirely different representations. It's fascinating to listen to because it opens up new worlds and experiences you wouldn't have thought of alone. I don't think this could really be a dangerous situation unless you were entirely following exactly what you heard without keeping in mind your own previous experience. Listening to another person’s account or reading a non-fiction book is no more dangerous than stepping into Neverland.
ReplyDeleteI would agree that one can live vicariously through nonfiction as well as fiction. However, I think the way structure of the nonfiction could have a large impact on this. As Gottschall pointed out, extremely realistic fiction is often boring and uninteresting to the reader. If a non fiction book was told strictly as the events happened, with no embellishment, we would probably find it dull. Consequently, we would not experience these events and learn from them as we would fiction. So, nonfiction must be told similarly to fiction in order to keep the reader engaged, while still relaying the truth of the events.
ReplyDeleteWhen nonfiction reflects the vivacity of fiction, we do experience a new mindset; the danger only comes if we completely submit to that mindset. Rather than do this, we as academic readers must critique the views, mindset, and thoughts of both fiction and nonfiction. We have to listen to and study other mindsets while still keeping our own. Then, if we discern that this new way of thinking could have a positive impact on us, we can integrate part or all of the new ideas into our previous way of thinking.
I agree with you entirely, Darby. In order for nonfiction to efficaciously leave an imprint on the mind of an individual, it must first appeal to that person. I do not believe that adverse text imposes a threat to an academic that is able to discern between constructive and deconstructive attributes…. Do you suppose that an individual without a firm foundation in the self might be harmfully affected by the stories of others?
Delete- Dillon Rea
Someone without a good understanding of themself probably could be harmfully affected by another's story. Evidence for this can be seen in the bullying and abusive cases. They incorporate the stories someone else is telling them into their lives because they don't have a foundation to compare the stories to. Often this can lead to medical and psychological issues.
DeleteSo in order to prevent this, an emphasis needs to be placed on "finding" oneself, however cliché that may sound. However, I don't necessarily mean finding oneself in the sense of dropping work, traveling around the world, and listening to every idea of the planet. Rather, someone should discern their moral boundaries, their personal goals, and what makes them truly happy. Discernment is a huge part of discovering your life goals, you career goals, and your relationships. Now I know that's asking a lot (I don't have all the answers, and I don't know that I ever will). It takes a lot of time and work, but to be actively participating in discerning your goals and morals can help buffer you against any harmful affects.
I disagree with this theory. With fiction you are given a demonstration of an event that might take place. In nonfiction you are not given a demonstration as much as you are given fuel or the tools you need for your own demonstration. I look at it like this: with fiction you are given a whole flight simulator to show you different ways you might respond to something, with nonfiction you are constructing the flight simulator yourself and are given a few choices to power your simulator.
ReplyDeleteI feel that both fiction and non-fiction works may be used as a sort of “flight simulator” as both have the potential to provide you the experience of seeing what might “work” or “not work” in the given situation. This is similar to the importance of studying history, as it is often described as a way to help us not make the same mistakes again. While we begin with the perspective we are born into, reading other’s works and ideas allows us to see life in new perspectives. Thus, we are “also seeing what it might be like to think in a different way than we currently do” as you suggest. This might be a dangerous thing if you climb into this “mental flight simulator” without using your own personal knowledge to judge whether this information should be taken lightly or not. Just as Buddha suggests, we should “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion non-fiction can be equally as enthralling as fiction, depending on how it is written. This can be either a good thing or a bad thing, varying on the level one allows themselves to be submersed into the story. An example of this is how various religious groups can gain following by doing nothing more than selling a well put together book, and watching as people are convinced by it. I remember reading an account of a Vietnam veteran recalling his time in the trenches, there were times where you could almost hear the gunshots and smell the musty fog rising from ground. Yes, I believe a personally influencing book can be dangerous, if it is written in the right way.
ReplyDelete-Colby Crowson.
Yes, I do believe that non-fiction texts can be just as persuading as those that are fiction. I have listened to sermons in church on different occasions in my life, and if they are good sermons they truly make you think about the way you see the world and the way you live your life. In my opinion the person you are listening to or whatever form of communication it may be must be an excellent storyteller in order for it to become dangerous. When a person is so manipulative and persuasive they can often convince their followers to do things that satisfy them, whether it is good or bad. Overall, non-fiction stories are just as persuasive as those of fiction.
ReplyDelete