#_____Name: ______Quiz:____
Definition of topic: “in critical theory and particularly postmodernism, a metanarrative (from metagrand narrative) is an abstract idea that is thought to be a comprehensive explanation of historical experience or knowledge. According to John Stephens it "is a global or totalizing cultural narrative schema which orders and explains knowledge and experience" The prefix meta- means "beyond" and is here used to mean "about", and narrative is a story constructed in a sequential fashion. Therefore, a metanarrative is a story about a story, encompassing and explaining other "little stories" within totalizing schemes. In postmodern philosophy, a metanarrative is an untold story that unifies and totalizes the world, and justifies a culture's power structures. Examples of these stories are nationalisms, religion, and science, to name a few. Metanarratives are not usually told outright, but are reinforced by other more specific narratives told within the culture. In the case of Christianity, the school Nativity play is a good example of this.” (Wikipedia; metanarrative).
Seven metanarrative schemes will be sketched on the doc camera or whiteboard. The following are commented upon and you can use the space here for comments:
Cyclical: Hindu; Buddhist; Yugas and the Days of Brahman
Hesiod’s Five Ages (ca: 750 BCE; Greek, philosophical)
Salvation History, Jewish, Christian, Islamic (from creation to eschaton)
USA: Manifest Destiny (1776-present)
Scientific (15 billion years ago to present)
Personal (for Dr. Kenney, 1950 to present)
Millenarian
Reflections: In light of the presentation on metanarratives, what do you think? What metanarrative makes the most sense to you, if any? What metanarrative(s) are evident in our textbook? Is any one metanarrative being promoted over another? Explain: