The Danger of a Single Story : worksheet (IEREST

materials, 2015)
Watch Adichies TED talk The danger of a single story, here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_sto
ry. Then, complete the following table and questions, bring to class for
discussion.
Central Specific Narrative questions The danger of a single story
themes aspects
of of
narrativ narrative
e
Narrative Narratives How does Adichie refer She tells the story from
Voice are to the subjective side personal experience
subjective of narrative in her own
narrative?
Narratives In what sort of mood or Shes starteled and often
are attitude does Adichie disappointed of the views. She
dynamic offer her narrative? also feld petty for them
Why so?
Narratives How does Adichie refer Asking rhetorical or funny
are open- to the ways narratives questions
ended could go on?
Narrative Narratives How does Adichie She linked a person who said all
Communi are show how narratives men are abusive in Nigeria. She
ty transferabl collect or contain other replied that she read a book
e narratives within that all americans are serial
them? killers
Narratives How does Adichie refer She uses very light humour and
are to and try to engage talks very slow. She reflects
participato the listeners? on herself
ry
Narrative Narratives How does Adichie All books were about whites
Power are explore the power or
dialectical dominance of
narratives?
Narratives Where does Adichie To the history of a culture. And
are refer to reinforcing or look at the whole
influential subversive narratives?
Narratives Where lies the appeal Dont look at it up close, step
are of narratives for back
seductive Adichie?
What is the main point she is trying to make?
That not everything is like it seems. Judging people makes you
underestimate.
What have you learnt from this video?
Judging people can be destructive for the other person but also for
yourself. There is much you can learn from other cultures and often
cultures are way more complex than they are perceived
How can you apply it to your own (future) experience?
Go with an open mind. There is much to be learned and you will limit
yourself before even getting there because of previous thoughts
Worksheet : Coimbra Portugal by Perrine
http://www.at-home-in-europe.tv/blog/video.php?video=hECpYACHKcs

Watch the video portrait by Erasmus student Perrine (Leuven, Belgium) of

her host university and fill the table, focusing on the elements of culture
the video highlights and ignores.

Highlighted elements of Ignored elements of culture

culture
Portugal and Wide history, there is a reason Multinational solutions to the
the why they wear capes. badges crisis. Collaboration
Portuguese in
general

Coimbra and The rich history

university life Very open minded, many Individualism
cultures.
Multicultural, languages
Sharing everything

The Erasmus
students in Very future minded The economic position of
Coimbra Coimbra.
The existing problems
Administrative problems

Formulate one or more additional questions that Perrine could have asked
each of these people: Jorge, Sofia, Ricardo.
Essentialism presents peoples individual behaviour as entirely defined and
constrained by the cultures in which they live so that the stereotype
becomes the essence of who they are

The narratives of the world are numberless. Narrative is first and

foremost a prodigious variety of genres, themselves distributed
amongst different substances as though any material were fit to
receive mans stories. Able to be carried by articulated language,
spoken or written, fixed or moving images, gestures, and the ordered
mixture of all these substances; narrative is present in myth, legend,
fable, tale, novella, epic, history, tragedy, drama, comedy, mime,
painting (think of Carpaccios Saint Ursula),
Narrative voice refers to the subjective, dynamic, and open-ended
characteristics of narratives. Narratives are not just stories because
they are defined by an individual perspective on the world; a narrative
gives voice to the subjectivity of the individual having a certain
experience.
The concept of narrative community emphasizes the participatory and
transferable traits of narratives. Narratives are not just shared in the
sense that every narrative requires a (passive) listener.