Chapter 9.
The power of the Men of the Gods was dependent on the power of the narrative. The very fabric of human society is woven from stories. Culture, defined as the shared narratives and symbolic systems that shape our understanding of the world, is not merely a reflection of society, but a powerful force that actively constructs our realities. As Benjamin Antoine noted, ‘Language isn’t just about communication… It’s political. It’s strategic. And in many cases, it’s a tool of power.’ This perspective, echoed by linguists like Steven Pinker, underscores how language and, by extension, narrative, is not a descriptive tool but a constitutive force that shapes our perceptions.
A key component of this cultural power is the political dimension of language, as articulated by Toni Morrison. She argued that language is not a neutral medium but a living entity that can either oppress or liberate. Morrison’s work highlights two critical aspects of this dynamic: first, how language can reflect and enforce social status by defining what is considered normal, valuable, or even human; and second, how it can be a tool of cultural imposition. She saw the “policing of languages of mastery” as a form of violence used to obscure truth and preserve privilege. Morrison’s concept of “word-work” advocates for the conscious use of language to challenge these dominant narratives and reclaim humanity.
The narratives we construct and perpetuate—whether in sacred texts, oral traditions, or rituals—provide the foundation for social order. As Yuval Noah Harari argues, the ability of Homo sapiens to create and believe in shared fictions has been fundamental to our species’ capacity to cooperate on a large scale and build complex societies. The idea of narrative extends beyond written words to encompass all aspects of culture—costume, dance, art, music, and more.
While human narrative forms are intricate, the power of communication through shared, patterned behaviours is evident across the animal kingdom. The “waggle dance” of honeybees, for instance, is a sophisticated form of communication that conveys information about the location and quality of food sources, a narrative told through movement with a clear and vital message. Similarly, birds exhibit a variety of “dances” connected to mating rituals, using choreographed movements and plumage to showcase their fitness. Whales use complex “whale song” to attract mates, and birds use elaborate vocalizations to define territory and communicate social information.
While animal communication is complex, the richness and multifaceted emotional content of human dance and music represent a distinct evolutionary trajectory. Human dance encompasses a vast spectrum of expression, from the celebratory movements of a wedding to the spiritual transcendence of a religious dance. Human song, like dance, is a multifaceted form of expression that can convey a wide range of emotions and tell stories. Neuroscientific research, such as that by Dr. John Iversen, illuminates why human musicality is so fundamental to our collective experience. Our innate ability to synchronise through music may have been the very spark that enabled us to grow beyond small groups into complex societies.
Narratives are also expressed through a variety of art forms. A single painting can capture the essence of an entire era, conveying complex emotions. Art historians like Ernst Gombrich have documented how artistic styles and themes evolve in tandem with cultural shifts. Photography also possesses a potent narrative capability. The iconic image of Phan Thị Kim Phúc, the “Napalm Girl,” is a stark depiction of the horrors of the Vietnam War and demonstrates photography’s power to encapsulate complex events. The theatre offers a unique space for exploring the human condition through dramatic narratives, from Shakespearean plays to non-Western traditions like Noh theatre. Cognitive psychologists like Jerome Bruner emphasise narrative as a primary mode of human thought.
Literature provides a vast canvas for storytelling, using the power of language to illuminate inner lives and expose social injustices. Film, a relatively young art form, has quickly become one of the most influential cultural forces in the world. With its unique blend of visual storytelling, music, and performance, film has the power to transport us to different worlds and inspire social change. Architecture, often considered the “mother of the arts,” shapes the physical spaces we inhabit and influences our daily lives. A towering cathedral can inspire awe and reverence, while a modern skyscraper can symbolise economic power. These structures are enduring narratives etched in stone, reflecting the beliefs, power structures, and aesthetic sensibilities of their civilisations. Clothing also serves as a powerful form of narrative expression. What we wear can signal social status, express individuality, and reflect cultural values.
Within the vast tapestry of human narrative, some voices rise with particular power, becoming cultural touchstones for resilience and aspiration. One such voice is Maya Angelou, whose poem “Still I Rise” embodies the enduring spirit of defiance and hope:
Still I Rise
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling on a tireless tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
The far-reaching impact of our human narratives is amplified by the inventions that allow them to endure and shape subsequent generations. The earliest forms of written communication, such as the cuneiform tablets of ancient Mesopotamia, revolutionised how we store and transmit knowledge. This invention, detailed in Denise Schmandt-Besserat’s How Writing Came About, has propelled scientific discovery and technological innovation to heights unimaginable in pre-literate societies. The internet, a manifestation of our desire to connect, collaborate, and expand the boundaries of knowledge, has reshaped communication and social interaction, representing a cultural transformation of unprecedented scale. Sociologists like Manuel Castells have analysed its immense impact, while Neil Postman offers a critical perspective on how media technologies shape public discourse.
Ultimately, culture acts as a catalyst, driving humanity to overcome limitations, achieve the extraordinary, and build a future that transcends our present understanding. It is the engine of our progress, the source of our creativity, and the foundation of our shared humanity. From our most ancient fictions to our most advanced technologies, it is our collective narratives that actively construct our reality and give meaning to our existence, making culture not merely a mirror of society but the very force that forges it.
Next Chapter: Navigating Exclusion: Gender, Sexuality, and Race
Bibliography
Antoine, Benjamin. YouTube Transcript
Bruner, Jerome. Acts of Meaning. Harvard University Press.
Castells, Manuel. The Rise of the Network Society. Blackwell Publishers.
Geertz, Clifford. The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays. Basic Books.
Gombrich, Ernst. The Story of Art. Phaidon Press.
Harari, Yuval Noah. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind.
Harper. Jenkins, Henry. Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York University Press.
Morrison, Toni. Nobel Lecture in Literature. 1993.
Pinker, Steven. The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language.
William Morrow and Company. Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. Penguin Books.
Schmandt-Besserat, Denise. How Writing Came About. University of Texas Press.