Disputable Core Concepts of Narrative Theory

Abstract

Against Narrativity' ReconsideredGalen Strawson's (2004) 'Against Narrativity' counts as possibly the most influential and thorough critique of narrative theorizing of self and identity in cultural studies that has been launched to date.Indeed, it is not difficult to agree with him in criticizing many overstated claims about the narrative character of self and identity.Personally, I have no trouble identifying with his idea of an Episodic person, who, quote, 'does not figure oneself, considered as a self, as something that was there in the (further) past and will be there in the (further) future' (Strawson 2004: 430).Insofar as this invitation of the Episodic personality and resistance to narrative continuity and 'form-finding' captivates us, Strawson, after all, fails in construing a convincing empirical case against narrativity.Rather, what he displays is a closed conceptual language game whose premises largely imply the results of the presumed analysis.After all, Strawson neither reveals anything like a distinct 'Episodic' style or personality, nor does he indicate any plausible limits of narrativity 1 .

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