A man I once worked for told me "perception is reality." I never liked this saying. It just didn't make sense to me because perceptions can be incorrect. Perception can be crafted and shaped by certain performers such as magicians and storytellers and throughout history have been quite frequently.
The word perceive comes from the Latin word 'percipere' which literally means "to obtain, gather" and "to take entirely." The word is made up of 'per' meaning "thoroughly" and 'capere' meaning "to grasp, take." The word conveys the idea of observation and collection. But not all things can be measured, such as beauty, and nothing can be measured correctly if the measuring system is inaccurate.
What it means for storytellers: Perception is not reality. We as storytellers often craft reality and use tools such as exaggeration to make a point or be humorous. Often exaggerated statements are not accurate and not realistic, but it does not mean they are not entertaining. As storytellers we need to be aware of the misconception that "perception is reality" and make sure our audiences are aware of when our stories take a turn into the surreal. This is not to say that we cannot use "make believe" but rather that we should not attempt to take advantage of our audiences or intentionally mislead them when our performance is done.
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But is it possible that when we "make believe" we are making belief (see "textual husbandry") and thereby influencing via belief, perception? Then, what we perceive influences what we consider real, or truth? To the extent that a powerful narrative can shape our perceptions of reality...? When I refer to belief, I really mean something more ingrained than creeds. For example, whether or not we believe in God, we all believe in Wednesday. We believe in March. We believe that the sun rises, pepper is hot, and that class begins at 12:15. Yet these are all stories we have so ingrained as to believe them unquestioningly.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt that some perceptions are reality and that in some instances in making believe we can form "belief" but I am referring more to the "altruistic statement" that perception is reality. I don't believe it is an absolute truth that perception is reality because of my experience with magic and illusions. But I think we do have the opportunity in some instances to "make belief."
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