A story is a recounting of events. In this context, a story can refer to a holistic experience, or to a particular matter or situation.
Section 1
Storytelling Basics
What is a story?
What is a narrative?
A narrative is a set of stories told in a specific way for a specific purpose. The same stories can be woven into many different narratives!
Kinds of narratives
Toxic narrative
An environmental story that frames a community’s experience and identity through pollution, contamination, and harm—this kind of narrative is sometimes criticized for flattening/simplifying the complex identities of frontline communities.1
Metanarrative
An overarching narrative about a chain of smaller historical narratives. A metanarrative can oversimplify nuanced issues. Narrative sovereignty work often challenges the dominant metanarratives.
Counter-narrative
A narrative that explicitly challenges a more dominant narrative, offering a different account or depiction of events.
What is framing?
Framing is process of selecting certain aspects of a story or issue and highlighting them to present an event, issue, or experience in a particular way.
In this section
Topic
Storytelling Basics
With more awareness and attention on environmental and climate justice communities from news outlets, event organizers, content creators, policymakers, and others, storytelling is more important than ever. Start here to learn the basics of storytelling, and how to own your community and organization’s story.
Contents
How to Tell a Powerful Story
How to Tell a Powerful Story
Narrative Sovereignty
Narrative Sovereignty
Choosing Your Audience: Who and How?
