Reluctant Heroes: Listening for the Untellable Story

Authors

Amy Shuman, Ohio State UniversityFollow

Abstract

One of the ways we learn about each other is through the stories we tell about ourselves and others. Through stories, we learn not only about the experiences of others but also, potentially, what the experiences mean to those others. Although stories can bridge understanding, and perhaps provide opportunities for empathy across difference, we also need to pay attention to the limits and costs of our storytelling. Empathy doesn’t entirely remove the gap but instead occurs as part of an exchange between tellers and listeners in which, at best, people are aware of both the possibilities and limits of understanding each other.

Keywords

Humanities Symposium

Recommended Citation

Shuman, Amy (2013) "Reluctant Heroes: Listening for the Untellable Story," Belmont Humanities Symposium Journal: Vol. 4, Article 10.
Available at: https://repository.belmont.edu/humanities_symposium_journal/vol4/iss1/10