We humans learn best through stories. When we tell each other stories from a cultural canon, we inculcate time-tested values and virtues.
Stories have always been important to society.
What is most important in life? How should a good person behave? These are the sorts of questions that stories should help us answer. In thriving societies, they do.
When the Navajo told children the story of the Hero Twins, they were teaching them the virtues of perseverance and courage. When Greek bards “sang the wrath of Achilles” in The Iliad, they were educating citizens about the tragedies of war.
By telling stories that had been told for generations, the Navajo and Greeks made sure that their societies’ most important lessons got learned.
The best stories are part of a cultural canon.
A canon is a law, so canonical stories are the ones we live by. For centuries, the Bible was the main source of those stories in the West. When people heard the parable of the Good Samaritan, for example, they learned to treat everyone with care and respect.
Today our canonical stories are mostly told through movies and novels. Two of them are the original Star Wars movie and Lord of the Rings. From them, we learn that an obscure farm boy can complete a hero’s journey, and that monstrous evil can be defeated through teamwork and grace.
It’s worth noting that both of these modern works are based on ancient myths and legends. They resonate so strongly with us because their themes are timeless.
Our canonical stories should be widely told.
These days, many stories have themes that aren’t timeless. They reflect cultural fads, and promote odd ideas. Wherever they prevail, people struggle through life.
Fortunately, we have many canonical stories to inspire and guide us. They come from highbrow art and Hollywood studios, from fairy tales and frontier lore. They’re stories like that of the knight-errant Parsifal, the gritty triumph of Rocky, the generous spirit of Gift of the Magi, and the personal liberation of Tangled. The more we tell them, the better we’ll do.
