Given that I've written my entire thesis with the idea in mind, I'm inclined to agree that all fiction is argument. Then I remembered that books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar exist.
It is fictional, and certainly has a narrative in the sense of a defined sequence of events, but the idea that it's an argument is not an easy one to accept. Instead, I'll say that all fiction not intended solely as education is argument. This still includes books at any level of reading as long as the narrative is meant to entertain over instruct.
I say this because when we create a fictional narrative, we are making an argument about our beliefs. Whether we mean to or not, the ideas that help shape who we are will be present in fiction. By incorporating these ideas, a writer is advocating for the audience to listen, to agree with or maybe challenge these ideas. They are saying, "Here's what I think? How about you?"
Take the various adaptations I've been poring over for months. They all make a point about something, whether it be politics or culture or what makes good entertainment, just through their existence. These concepts were woven into the fabric of the narrative, making them essential to the story and presenting the argument to the audience for evaluation. The first two are obvious, and the audience may find themselves actively agreeing or disagreeing. The third is more nuanced, and the audience will still find themselves taking a stand on the argument of what makes good entertainment by thinking, "That was great!" or "It wasn't that funny." Whatever the case, the author is presenting some of their beliefs to the audience as worthy of consideration, and the audience will decide whether or not they were beliefs worth entertaining.
As I think about this more, though, I realize that there is an argument inherent to all fiction. An author publishes their writing because they want people to read it. A director makes a movie because they want people to see it. A storyteller tells a story because they want people to hear it. By bringing it into the world, a fiction argues, "I deserve to be heard." This applies to all fiction.
Even The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
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| The star of many storytimes over the past 50 years (x) |
It is fictional, and certainly has a narrative in the sense of a defined sequence of events, but the idea that it's an argument is not an easy one to accept. Instead, I'll say that all fiction not intended solely as education is argument. This still includes books at any level of reading as long as the narrative is meant to entertain over instruct.
I say this because when we create a fictional narrative, we are making an argument about our beliefs. Whether we mean to or not, the ideas that help shape who we are will be present in fiction. By incorporating these ideas, a writer is advocating for the audience to listen, to agree with or maybe challenge these ideas. They are saying, "Here's what I think? How about you?"
Take the various adaptations I've been poring over for months. They all make a point about something, whether it be politics or culture or what makes good entertainment, just through their existence. These concepts were woven into the fabric of the narrative, making them essential to the story and presenting the argument to the audience for evaluation. The first two are obvious, and the audience may find themselves actively agreeing or disagreeing. The third is more nuanced, and the audience will still find themselves taking a stand on the argument of what makes good entertainment by thinking, "That was great!" or "It wasn't that funny." Whatever the case, the author is presenting some of their beliefs to the audience as worthy of consideration, and the audience will decide whether or not they were beliefs worth entertaining.
As I think about this more, though, I realize that there is an argument inherent to all fiction. An author publishes their writing because they want people to read it. A director makes a movie because they want people to see it. A storyteller tells a story because they want people to hear it. By bringing it into the world, a fiction argues, "I deserve to be heard." This applies to all fiction.
Even The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
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