I don’t explain–I explore
“I don’t explain—I explore”
–Marshall McLuhan
It’s true. I’m still thinking about the LOST finale after almost a week. The more I reflect on it and the more I hear other people reflect on the story of LOST, the more I’m convinced of how much it can help people approach a better understanding of the art form of storytelling. I am pretty sure that much of the negative reaction stirred up by the finale is largely due to a misunderstanding of how a good narrative is supposed to function.
The producers and creators of the show LOST expressed over and over again that their intention with the show was to tell a story, plain and simple. Their intention was never to set up a bunch of dilemmas in the first four seasons and then answer them with the last two. That’s not the job of a storyteller. The job of a storyteller is to create a world and invite you into it to explore and to become part of it. But just as in any world, be it fictional or real, questions will no doubt arise along the way. The job of the storyteller is not to answer all of the questions as if they were working on an encyclopedia, but to make you feel that you are a part of that world.
This encyclopedia approach to reading a narrative text, in my opinion, is clearly evident in the way many people read the Bible today. A lot of times people approach the Bible with the expectation that they are going to get specific answers to specific questions. Needless to say, they are often times disappointed when they don’t get the answers they’re looking for. I’ve come to learn that rather than approaching the Bible as a source in which I can ascertain some kind of extractable answer, I should instead approach it as a story of which I am a part.
In my opinion, the job of any good narrative is completely opposite to the function of an encyclopedia. Most would agree that the task of an encyclopedia is to give one certainty. I would say that the job of a narrative is not to answer questions but to raise them. I would purpose that the task of the storyteller is to raise questions and keep her readers uncertain. Some might say that this is not helpful, but I wonder if it is indeed more helpful than we can ever know? Besides, isn’t this the kind of amazing storytelling that keeps us riveted and involved right up until the end? The kind that allows us to go back to that story again and again, each time making a new connection or finding something we haven’t seen before? I certainly think it is.
Paintings by Mitsuo Katsui
Interesting thought on storytelling - I would tend to agree. The most compelling stories aren't the ones where all the facts are wrapped up neatly, but the ones with mystery, and plots where you can put yourself into the narrative or where you find yourself thinking about the characters situation while you are doing something completely mundane. You find yourself trying to solve the questions or figure out alternate ending or resolutions. I remember spending countless talks with my best friend from High School trying to create an alternate ending to Gone With the Wind... :)
Kim, thanks for reading and I agree. You're right, I can always tell if I've seen a good movie or read a good book if I find myself thinking about it days after I've watched or read it.
Great take on this, the best line is "In my opinion, the job of any good narrative is completely opposite to the function of an encyclopedia."Absolutely perfect.