The Application of Story in Real Life

I apologize in advance for anyone reading this who is sick to death of hearing about the opening ceremony for the Olympics. I would have written this last Friday but I didn’t see them in time. For those of you who are sick of the Olympics period, I can’t really help you. I feel for you though, I did a happy dance at the end of football season.

But seriously, the opening ceremonies provide an incredible example for the applications of story, fiction even, in real life. And I must commend one of our time’s most fantastic storytellers: Vladimir Putin. Because that “history” of Russia was the biggest lie I’ve ever seen. But man was it told well!

From the Viking settlers, to Peter the Great, to the Revolution, and through the 50s, I’ve never seen such a positive retelling of a bloody and violent history. There was no mention of starvation, burning cities, assassinated royalty, gulags, Stalin, the mafia, bigotry. Those are the big ones I can pull out of my hat without resorting to Google. It was a white washing of epic proportions. I didn’t know any history could be that positively cast.

No, Russia is not the only country on the face of the earth guilty of white washing. There isn’t a country innocent of the act, so I’m not picking on the federation. I adore Russia, really. I’ve had a soft spot for Russian history since I learned of my Russian ancestry. That doesn’t mean I don’t see it for what it is. I love my country too and am very proud to be Canadian, but I’ll be the first one to tell you the country’s faults.

This is getting too political now and that isn’t the point of my post in any way. Ok, it’s not the focus of my post, I can’t help being political when I get the chance. Here’s what I took away from the history lesson and what I’d like you to too: a sprinkling of fact mixed with a smattering of fiction makes for a believable tale. People believed that that was all there was to Russian history. I kid you not. My eyebrows will never come down. I wonder what kind of rocks said people live under. And I wonder what life must be like living in such a positive bubble –should I try it?

The ceremonies illustrated storytelling 101: be SELECTIVE about the details and you’ll get your audience hook, line, and sinker.

I depart with a shameless cheer: Go team Canada!!