Ideas Worth Spreading

The Danger of a Single Story
"Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding."

Watch Chimamanda's talk and reflect and respond to the following questions:

• What are some of the "single stories" that may plague your understanding of people and the world?
• Have you ever regained the "type of paradise" that Adichie refers to?
• How can we save ourselves from the dangers of the single story?
• Are there circumstances in which opinions formed by the single story are acceptable?
  

Topic: Mythology of Identity
Description: As modern people we would like to believe that we are rational and reasonable beings. In fact, the modern man looks at mythology as pre-modern thinking. And yet, most things we hold dear originate not from logic. Our self-image, our identity, our culture, our ideas about truth, beauty and goodness depend on a mythic framework. This talk explores an aspect of life that we as humans are often embarrassed to acknowledge, yet is present all around us. It brings out the worst in us and the best.

To view the full video of our April 2010 TEDxASB event, please click here.