Schematic Narrative Templates

Schematic narrative templates: basic plot schemas that outline the narrative structure for how to discuss past events

The “plot” remains similar even if the characters, events, dates and even circumstances change
Schematic narrative templates occur in history, but also in media and society broadly
Tend to arise after generational erasure — once the people who lived through an event are no longer alive to tell stories (can’t provide nuance and detail to an event)
- Specific narratives tend to become schematic narrative templates, especially as later generations learn about the past through the historical imaginary (because we can’t turn to lived experiences)
- As we get farther from an event, more of our historical imaginary is socialized

school culture: informed citizenry!