“If This is Your Land, Where are Your Stories?” by J Edward Chamberlin has become one of my favorite books just after the first read. It was undeniably a challenge to understand the technical constructions of such abstract ideas that surround stories. But, I really took my time with the book as it was – at the same time – so enticing in how abstract and philosophical structures can govern concrete realities in communities. Three points that Chamberlin made in the last chapter of the book, “Ceremonies” that \u00a0stood out to me were:<\/p>\n
1. It takes active participation and surrendering to particular realities to truly feel the intended effect of stories. That mental space is what Chamberline calls “the border”. This active component of the listener\/reader is a factor I’ve never thought of previously. And it’s redefined my perspective on stories as an entity that only exists if the receiver allows it to. If we overstep the line, the illusion becomes too clear and it leaks into our reality. \u00a0Step too far away from the border and we \u00a0all too much become absorbed into the stories. Positioning ourselves on the sweet spot as listeners\/readers creates “strangeness and contradiction” (223) which should be cherished but we end up often avoiding.<\/p>\n
2. Chamberlin describes the purpose of stories as being to create a “common ground” between people. Whether if it’s a brief moment where we sing the same lyrics together at a concert or a lasting treaty between countries, having shared stories means having shared realities, having shared realities means having shared rules and boundaries, and that creates structure, thus creating what we call community. Chamberlin also suggests that while we may not celebrate every story, it’s at least imperative to know that it’s fruitless to compare stories to one another; it’s the easiest way to create misunderstanding. “We may not eat together at the end of the day, but at least we can show some respect for each other’s table manners” (227).<\/p>\n