Narrative: An Introduction

Since the mid-1960s there has been a huge amount of interest in, and speculation about, the nature of narrative. This may well be a function of our information society, where communication and the means of communication have become increasingly important to societies, organizations, and individuals alike. Furthermore, cross-cultural studies (e.g. Chafe 1980; Levi-Strauss 1972) suggest that narrative is a basic and constant form of human expression regardless of ethnic origin, primary language, and enculturation. This ubiquity is famously described by Barthes: