Narrative: A Key Concept for Cognition and Culture

14 Pages Posted: 25 May 2009

See all articles by Ana Margarida Abrantes

Ana Margarida Abrantes

Catholic University of Portugal (UCP) - Research Center for Communication and Culture; Case Western Reserve University - Department of Cognitive Science

Date Written: May 24, 2009

Abstract

This paper reviews the four basic elements of narrative proposed in David Herman 2009 - situatedness, structured event sequence, element of rupture and "what it's like" dimension - and proposes two further elements: intentionality and conceptual viewpoint in narrative. Intentionality, although not particular to narrative but rather implied in human action in general, is an essential feature that makes one interpret a narrative as such (and not as an instance of another genre or discourse). The conceptual narrative viewpoint is related to the act of narrating implied in the narrative, and to the particular perspective adopted with respect to the story told.

Narrative and its basic elements are further considered with respect to traditional narratology, as well as to the cognitive perspective of narrative.

This paper proposes a study of narrative as a possible interface between the cognitive science and the study of culture.

Keywords: narrative, cognitive narratology, culture studies

Suggested Citation

Abrantes, Ana Margarida, Narrative: A Key Concept for Cognition and Culture (May 24, 2009). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1409402 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1409402

Ana Margarida Abrantes (Contact Author)

Catholic University of Portugal (UCP) - Research Center for Communication and Culture ( email )

Palma de Cima
Lisbon, 1649-023
Portugal

Case Western Reserve University - Department of Cognitive Science ( email )

10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106-7068
United States

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