Jim Michmerhuizen's query about stories is a neat insight: stories
are the archetypal teaching device, so maybe interpreting life is "wired
into" the human brain's functioning. Certainly every culture of which I'm
aware uses stories to teach, with especially wonderful examples including
Sufi tales, Zen koan and Biblical parables, no less than jokes and
anecdotes. Commentary may explain, only to remove the delight of insight
(gawd, my lit crit mentors would turn in their graves!), yet thinking
together about different interpretations may also expand the ways to
construe the wonderful stories we tell. Where do you come out, Jim?
Sam
MXJELI@MAIL.WM.EDU
Mariann Jelinek
Richard C. Kraemer Professor of Business
Graduate School of Business,
College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185
Tel. (804) 221-2882 FAX: (804) 229-6135