Chapter 10.
“How do you get two million strangers to cooperate? All they have to do is believe in a shared fiction.” — Yuval Noah Harari
The Power of Narrative and Language
The power of Faiths Men of the Gods was dependent on their crafting the power of the narrative. The very fabric of human society is woven together with stories. Culture, defined as these 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 the realities of our societies. 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 found in the political dimension of language. Toni Morrison argued that language is not a neutral medium but a living entity that can either oppress or liberate the individual within a society. 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. Second, how it can be a tool of cultural imposition. She saw the policing of languages 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 our humanity.
Shared Fictions Create Social Order
The narratives we construct and perpetuate, whether in sacred texts, oral traditions, or the physical language of rituals, provide the foundation for social order. Yuval Noah Harari argues that the ability of Homo sapiens to create and believe in shared fictions has been fundamental to our species’ capacity to cooperate on a vast scale and build complex societies. The idea of narrative extends well beyond written words to encompass all aspects of culture, from costume and dance to art and music.
While our human narrative forms are intricate, the power of communication through shared, patterned behaviours is evident across the natural world. The waggle dance of honeybees, for example, conveys information about the location and quality of food sources. This is a narrative told through movement, with a clear and vital message. Birds use elaborate vocalisations and choreographed dances to define territory and attract mates, demonstrating how communication shapes survival and social structures.
The Evolutionary Trajectory of Human Expression
There is a richness and emotional depth to human dance and music that represents a distinct evolutionary path. Human dance spans a wide spectrum, from the joy of a wedding celebration to the spiritual transcendence of religious rituals. Music is also a multifaceted form of expression, capable of conveying complex emotions and deeply human stories. Neuroscientific research, such as that by Dr John Iversen, suggests that our ability to synchronise through music may have been the spark that enabled us to grow beyond small groups into complex societies.
Narratives are also expressed through visual and performative arts. A single painting can capture the essence of an entire era, while photography, like the iconic image of Phan Thi Kim Phuc, the Napalm Girl, encapsulates the horrors of war in a single frame. These art forms serve as enduring records of human experience, shaping how we remember and interpret history. Theatre, from Shakespearean plays to Noh theatre, offers a unique space for exploring the human condition. Countless books and pamphlets use language to illuminate our inner lives and expose the injustices of society.
Voices of Resilience: Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise”
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.
Angelou’s poem stands as a testament to the transformative power of narrative, using language to reclaim dignity, assert identity, and inspire collective action. It exemplifies how culture, through its most potent voices, can challenge oppression and redefine what is possible for individuals and communities.
Amplified Narratives Using Technology
The far-reaching impact of our human narratives has been 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 marvel of our desire to connect, collaborate, and expand the boundaries of knowledge, has reshaped communication and social interaction. It represents 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, for better or worse, shape public discourse. These tools not only preserve our stories but also help democratise access to them, allowing narratives to transcend time and geography.
Culture as the Engine of Progress
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. There is not a single narrative; like society, many different voices stake a claim on the story of humankind.
Culture is not merely a mirror of society but the very force that forges it. Through shared stories, art, language, and technology, we shape our values, challenge injustices, and redefine what is possible. This dynamic process ensures that culture remains a living, evolving entity, constantly pushing the boundaries of human potential and collective aspiration.
Bibliography
Antoine, Benjamin. YouTube Transcript
Bruner, Jerome. Acts of Meaning. Harvard University Press, 1990.
Castells, Manuel. The Rise of the Network Society. Blackwell Publishers, 1996.
Geertz, Clifford. The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays. Basic Books, 1973.
Gombrich, Ernst. The Story of Art. Phaidon Press, 1950.
Harari, Yuval Noah. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. Harper, 2014.
Jenkins, Henry. Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York University Press, 2006.
Morrison, Toni. Nobel Lecture in Literature, 1993.
Pinker, Steven. The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language. William Morrow and Company, 1994.
Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business. Penguin Books, 1985.
Schmandt-Besserat, Denise. How Writing Came About. University of Texas Press, 1992.