What's in a Story?

I think every story has a message. Whether it's a movie, a book, a TV show... and whether that message is overt or not, or even intentional or not, I think they all carry some sort of message.

I went with Nate VP and others last night to go see The Bands Visit at the State Theater downtown. And it was good, wonderfully entertaining. Funny, well down, touching without being overwhelming. And just the right length for the story.

And yet I walked away bothered. What was the message? These thoughts came to me courtesy of Donald Miller and Nate who, despite quite enjoying it, was made almost physically sick for two weeks from watching No Country for Old Men.

I just can't help but think that the message is important. I listened to an excellent sermon by Donald Miller about this and his words were left rattling around in my head.

He once attended some sort of workshop taught by Robert McKee (apparently an expert on narrative and at least part of the basis for the film Adaptation). And McKee, this expert on narrative, argues that stories are getting worse.

He argues that all the great stories are a part of this overarching narrative. One of goodness, fall, struggle, and redemption. Some, say Hamlet, exist within only the first two. It's a tragedy, but it means something to us because it is part of this bigger narrative that we relate to. We all sense that the world is broken. This makes sense. Why does Les Miserables or Lion King speak to us? Because there is redemption that fits within this bigger narrative.

And now, he says, we're losing that narrative. Despite being agnostic, he sees that moving from the overarching story of humanity as told in the Bible (good creation, fall/corruption, rescue/redemption) means stories get worse.

Yes. I'm simplifying like crazy. Listen to the Don Miller sermon. But I could feel it while I watched this movie.

There is no narrative. The theme is futility. Life is loneliness, unfulfilled expectations, and unfinished dreams. There are moments of goodness within it that we should latch on to. But ultimately, no resolution, just futility.

An unfinished concerto. A marriage that is falling apart. A father that drove his son to suicide, that eventually drove his wife to death. A band that is going to be dismantled because no one cares about music. A missed opportunity for love, stolen by an opportunity for brief, selfish lust. Waiting for hours by a phone for a brief call from a far off girlfriend. A small room and tons and tons of loneliness.

I don't want that to be my story. I think there is more.