Description of Groups-(Narratives vs Fantasies)

I found "description of groups" under narratives and fantasies to not only be useful and informative, however very helpful to be aware of. According to our text, a narrative "combines both reality and myth" (Harris &Sherblom, 92). However, a fantasy is the "creative and imaginative shared interpretation of event that fulfills a group's psychological ot rhetorical experience..." (93). I found the comparison to both be very interesting especially when descriptions of groups were categorized under this section because it compared and contrasted two separate groups that both are norms in our society and in history as well.

For example, this description of groups was broken down into two categories (groups), A and B. In A, there was "one big, happy family, athletic team, first class, explorers, warriors, and stage" and in B, 'insane asylum, snake pit, zoo, quicksand, boiling cauldron, and swamp" (93). Both groups relate to small group communication because both are opposite groups; one is the stereotypical good, perfect group and the other, the bad, negative type of group. In small groups such as an athletic team, a team may not always be classified in the type A group because especially in sports, a team is never perfect. Not everyone is going to get along, that’s why they say, "there's no I in team." If there was just an I, then sports teams would not be as influential in society as they are today, even in the past. In type B, a zoo for example, consists of a variety and diverse range of animals, who are all wonderful creatures. Some not as good as others, however not all are bad, and not all are good. I just thought using fantasy and narratives is a great way to explain that in life, nothing is always "black and white." We can't just judge a book by its cover, or we'll be missing the chance to read our future possible favorite book. Same with individuals and in small groups and in life. We are all lovely, unique, and wonderful individuals, and if we just stick to the same group because we have been socialized in it, then we will never have the chance to learn, grow, and develop as an individual and the whole point of the "game of life" is that we learn and experience something and someone(different people from different backgrounds) everyday.