Whoever controls the narrative has the power | Gretchen Busl | TEDxTWU

Reasoning is complex and learned while storytelling is innate. Master plots become a way of making sense of the world. When we don’t see ourselves in the master plot, we think we need to be prettier, thinner, richer, …fill-in-the-blank. Stories really do shape our worldview, and we cannot let them do so uncritically.

Gretchen Busl is a narrative scholar, working to understand how stories can be used both to divide communities and to bring them together. She is an assistant professor in the Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Languages at Texas Woman’s University, focusing on global literature, rhetoric, and writing. As a Public Voices fellow with the Op-Ed Project, she is committed to erasing the artificial division between academic and public discourses. She believes that understanding and harnessing the power of narrative is a critical tool for social change.

[RugeProductions]

This is one of the most important Ted Talks of all time.

[Dmanfp]

Great ted talk, straight to the point, substance & style. Why do majority of ted talks make it 60-75% personal story, a realization, and 20% message....

[mihnic]

I was obsessed with the Justin Fields / Chicago Bears story in 2024. Not necessarily because he’s my favorite player but because there was an obvious narrative that was created against him. One example is Stephen A Smith came out and said, “ he just not the guy”. After listening to Smith speak it was obvious that Smith may never have watched Bears game throughout the season. Yet other Bears fans were repeating his words. After the Bears traded Fields Smith then changed his position on Fields and stated he is a promising young talent. Stephen A Smith is a tool used to control the narrative.

[jeffinrodriguez]

Tyrion Lanister said something like this towards the end of Game of thrones; about the power of stories and the importance of it.

[christophergardiner]

One thing that I like to do, as a person who has taught before, is whenever someone is teaching something to me is to watch the lesson again and apply what was being taught in the lesson to the lesson itself, and consider if the teacher is applying the lesson in their methods. This is no different.

[TGIAM]

I have been so enlightened ! This was good !

[nm]

Excellent subject and execution. Much appreciated

[faithturner]

Wow this never has been so important than right now 💛✨

[xulumbusiralph]

Don't know how many times she said "alright? okay?" Lmaol

[elizabethbrownlow]

Awesome explanation of the power of narrative! I use it in my Ethnic Studies courses.

[reflectionprojection]

Very useful talk- thank you
I am a Law student trying to make sense of a story that does not instinctively make sense to me
Also thinking about my role in family as black sheep
No matter how many 'A's' I get- it's never enough LOL

[kevinharrison]

Your intelligence is very attractive. ❤😂🎉

[riffraff]

when they lower the volume like that, is because they don't want you to know

[yuda]

Western society is built on 2 distinct cultures: 1. Greek 2. Hebraic. The hebraic biblical culture is the mother of Narrative and the greek culture the mother of Rationality. But biblical narrative is rational and logical, it is rhetorical by nature, it requires critical thinking skills to understand and grasp. It does offer simpler layers of communication for the unthinking masses, but don't confuse yourself and think that is all it has to offer.

[donnabolton]

Can't hear it. Audio way to faint.

[melodielewis]

who else is watching this because of school, and who else is watching this not understanding a thing

[XShollaj]

Came here from wsb control the narrative 😁

[kjarri]

The sad thing is you could show this to the russian or chineese people today and they wouldn’t know what she was talking about

[lonelyleaf]

she is like the female equivalent of Mr Mackey from South Park, mkay?

[miniminamanmina]

See spot run, run, run, run, do you remember your first grade reading story .