Meta Narrative
Rafael Garcia
Emotional impact is at the core of art, especially through narrative. This thesis asks: “Can narratological theory help us understand the role of narrative art used as a tool for education, cultural and historical preservation, and personal transformation?” Narrative art matters more because of its stronger emotional resonance through story, rather than jargon-heavy theory that confuses general audiences. This allows viewers to resonate with it by inviting empathy and self-reflection. This is directly tied to my very own art practice in storytelling, character design, illustration, and intended takeaway. In other words, the intended narrative details scattered throughout the work are intended to convey a larger story.
To convey this, I will use a life-size recreation of a scarecrow-inspired character I developed named Hayley. She will serve as a standalone work of art and as a narrative case study of the storytelling process. By imagining Hayley as a creator of her own world, with its own characters, my own character creating a world of their own. This will add a meta-narrative layer to storytelling, similar to Mieke Bal 1 and Monika Fludernik's 2 findings. Narratological theory, specifically how emotional experience resonates with audiences.
The goal of this thesis is to demonstrate that narrative art is more than aesthetics, but rather a tool for education, preservation, and connection. Additionally, it aims to shape our own understanding and experiences of the world through the importance of art.
1 Mieke Bal, Narratology: Introduction to the Theory of Narrative, 4th ed. (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009).
2 Fludernik, M. (2009). An Introduction to Narratology (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi-org.aurarialibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.4324/9780203882887
Contact me
rafrocksart@gmail.com
Instagram: @raf_rocks