We therefore need narratives because it is only through a continuous story that we define who we are. And to do this we use stories that we tell ourselves through a continuous dramaturgical process as an internal mirror, and on ourselves, a staging that shows the world who we are and how others can, in turn, recognize us through their stories. A real effort.
(Sustainability) does not escape the torment and pleasure of narrating. Johanna Macy and Molly Brown in their «Coming back to life» make it the heart of a process of reconnection with one’s own reason for being. If narrating is a necessary act, the lens of stories about/of (sustainability) becomes both absolution and a consolatory and sometimes justicial gesture when it takes on the guise of a moral act. With all due respect. The authors indicate those stories that, in their opinion, contain, as a whole, the most frequent attitudes that, both personally and socially, we assume towards environmental and social issues. The attitudes through which we can read and understand the world around us and the crisis we are experiencing, which primarily involve the ecological transition, can be traced back mainly to three narratives, in short, in the stories we tell, about it, to ourselves and to others. We can outline them, with a certain interpretative freedom, as follows:
The first story: business as usual – the first story covers a range of positions that we could define as reductionist, in the sense that they tend to downplay the extent of the problem. It includes die-hard deniers but also those who simply underestimate the impacts on the environment and the effects that human activities have on the climate. The dominant belief in this story is the following: after all, it is not necessary to change our lifestyles, both with respect to production regimes and exploitation of natural resources, and in terms of per capita consumption, since in general the situation is under control, as demonstrated by the fact that we all lead, more or less, a good life, even consuming as we please; or, at least, the difficulties are not as heavy as others believe. We will make it, everything will be fine. The developments in technology throughout the history of humanity demonstrate this: we have always found the best solutions even when faced with the greatest challenges: why shouldn’t it be the same this time?
The second story: the great unraveling – the second story is shared by those who have developed a pessimistic projection of the situation, of what awaits us in the future; all those who, for different reasons and different considerations, believe that we do not have many alternatives. This narrative is supported by a scientific approach, relies on experts, and relies on data. For this reason, its supporters include researchers and experts, that is, subjects who are particularly competent in collecting, organizing and interpreting data relating to specific and particularly critical aspects of the climate crisis and damage to the ecosystem. These are the figures most qualified to express an expert opinion on specific questions of this irreversible destruction and know the consequences, including the feeling of loss – mourning, connected to the «environmental pain» – that follows. Often these people believe they have the right to express the last word on questions connected to (sustainability), even when the perimeter of the reflections expands well beyond the specific field in which they are experts. They also often hold others responsible for the disaster, often associated with the first story, with “business as usual”, because they are blind to what is happening. The attitude therefore varies between the “preacher in the desert” and the “great censor”, both linked to the Great Truth.
The third story: the great turning – the last story is, in all respects, a turning point. It includes all those who have consciously internalized the message conveyed by the “great unveiling”, have faced the emotional consequences that this acknowledgement entails, but have a constructive attitude towards the ways to deal with the consequences. Rather than resolute answers, I tend to ask good questions about what creative solutions might be necessary to support the change we urgently need. These are people who embrace a broad systemic dimension and are not satisfied with a Great Truth, aware that this, left to itself, can represent a great scam. They are, after all, bricoleurs: they live in the awareness that it is necessary to work with what we have left, for better or for worse; without great illusions, but with responsibility.
The three narratives are the result of the complex social interaction of different actors (citizens, media, organizations, experts, political representatives, etc.) who mutually contribute to making one scenario stable, credible and convincing rather than the other. These narratives influence and condition the possibility of making good decisions regarding fundamental issues for our future (energy policies, protection of biodiversity, etc.).
- What other narratives can we add to those proposed by Joanna Macy and Molly Brown?
- We all have, in turn, a very personal one. Is knowing what it is already the result of a good dose of awareness?
- Have you ever explored yours thoroughly?
J.Macy and M. Brown, Coming back to life, New Society Publishers
