The focus of Robert Wuhl’s lecture is that history and pop culture are not entirely separate things. He explains that what is remembered from history is what was popular. Pop culture, popular storytelling, and word of mouth sharing of stories across generations tell the story of a time period.
Wuhl says that if “the legend becomes fact, print the legend.” From this perspective, any narrative that is popular and believed essentially becomes history. Even if it is not real, it becomes accepted. I feel that design and media have the responsibility of creating and publishing things that won’t mislead the public.
Narrative, narrative design, media, and history all choose the “fluff” or the stuff that “sounds better” in a story, despite the reality or truth of the situation. History is sensational.
I believe there is a line to be drawn in storytelling where we must make clear the difference between a sensational story and the truth.
Narrative Design Fall 2019 