Narrative: in search of lost meaning

Abstract

The de-institutionalization of biographies and life paths, and the fact that they are increasingly exposed to deviations with increasingly uncertain transient routes makes the personal biographies more and more reflexive and makes the identity of postmodern man more and more fragmented. In this way, narrating to oneself and narrating oneself to others is a way to recover at least some of the certainties lost in our liquid modernity. Narrative favours the construction or recomposition of identity. Indeed, the self takes shape and is structured by describing itself both inwardly and to others through a process of negotiating meaning. Additionally, in this way it is possible to reduce the fragmentary nature that characterises current biographies to some extent, recovering sense and meaning for one’s own experiences and identity, and managing to recognise oneself and be recognised through one’s personal social identity.