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Everyone heard that Carrie Fisher became one with the Force today, but fewer people heard that Richard Adams also died today. The loss of these two people saddens me for many of the same reasons - they both played roles in shaping my understanding of stories.
Watership Down, Adams' most famous novel, tells a story about a group of rabbits living in the English countryside. I read it as a kid & loved the adventure story of Hazel, Bigwig, Fiver, & the rest finding a new home & defending it against the evil General Woundwort. As an adult, I loved it again because it shows a community that is shaped, in part, by stories. The rabbits tell each other stories of their culture hero El-Ahrairah & the fearsome Black Rabbit of Inlé. Adams does an amazing job of making the rabbits relatable but never over-humanizing them. He does such a good job of introducing their culture & language that near the end of the book, Bigwig speaks an entire sentence in Lapine (the rabbit language) & it doesn't even hit a speed bump in most readers' minds ("Silflay hraka u embleer rah.").
Star Wars, to a large extent, is my culture's story. The music of the film's soundtrack pervades many of my memories. I learned to play the Star Wars theme on the song flute for a concert in first grade. At Cornell, we used to gather in my dorm room & listen to the Imperial March before headinI g out the door to a prelim or final. In grad school, I studied while listening to the film scores (old trilogy & new). I've seen the original trilogy so many times that I can pretty much mumble along with the actors' lines at any point. I hated the prequel trilogy & mostly refuse to acknowledge their existence, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the two most recent films.
Star Wars references pervade my daily life. You can drop "Boba Fett", "Jedi", "Sith", "Jar-Jar Binks", "stormtroopers", "X-wing fighter", etc. in casual conversation with most of my friends & co-workers without ever having to explain yourself. Jim Butcher's Dresden Files characters reference Star Wars constantly, to the point that a light saber has made an appearance in the series. And the story shapes our culture. "May the Force be with you" is understood as a benediction. If someone does something evil, people say they've turned to the Dark Side. We are given examples of a princess who endures terrible losses but never gives up hope, a scruffy-looking nerf herder who eventually becomes a general for the Rebellion, a con man turned station administrator who has to make horrible choices under pressure from the government. A single person can change the history of the galaxy. A single person can change the course of their broken life by turning away from the Dark Side.
Stories are important. My religious faith revolves around a collection of stories. I love hearing people's stories, & I love telling stories. I loved Story Hour in college, where one person read stories aloud while wearing the Story Hat. I love listening to stories on Audible. Stories transmit values & teach about situations without you having to actually having to live through it. Sharing a story with someone lets you share a part of your life.
Carrie Fisher & Richard Adams shaped & enriched my life by sharing their stories with me. Thank you.
Watership Down, Adams' most famous novel, tells a story about a group of rabbits living in the English countryside. I read it as a kid & loved the adventure story of Hazel, Bigwig, Fiver, & the rest finding a new home & defending it against the evil General Woundwort. As an adult, I loved it again because it shows a community that is shaped, in part, by stories. The rabbits tell each other stories of their culture hero El-Ahrairah & the fearsome Black Rabbit of Inlé. Adams does an amazing job of making the rabbits relatable but never over-humanizing them. He does such a good job of introducing their culture & language that near the end of the book, Bigwig speaks an entire sentence in Lapine (the rabbit language) & it doesn't even hit a speed bump in most readers' minds ("Silflay hraka u embleer rah.").
Star Wars, to a large extent, is my culture's story. The music of the film's soundtrack pervades many of my memories. I learned to play the Star Wars theme on the song flute for a concert in first grade. At Cornell, we used to gather in my dorm room & listen to the Imperial March before headinI g out the door to a prelim or final. In grad school, I studied while listening to the film scores (old trilogy & new). I've seen the original trilogy so many times that I can pretty much mumble along with the actors' lines at any point. I hated the prequel trilogy & mostly refuse to acknowledge their existence, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the two most recent films.
Star Wars references pervade my daily life. You can drop "Boba Fett", "Jedi", "Sith", "Jar-Jar Binks", "stormtroopers", "X-wing fighter", etc. in casual conversation with most of my friends & co-workers without ever having to explain yourself. Jim Butcher's Dresden Files characters reference Star Wars constantly, to the point that a light saber has made an appearance in the series. And the story shapes our culture. "May the Force be with you" is understood as a benediction. If someone does something evil, people say they've turned to the Dark Side. We are given examples of a princess who endures terrible losses but never gives up hope, a scruffy-looking nerf herder who eventually becomes a general for the Rebellion, a con man turned station administrator who has to make horrible choices under pressure from the government. A single person can change the history of the galaxy. A single person can change the course of their broken life by turning away from the Dark Side.
Stories are important. My religious faith revolves around a collection of stories. I love hearing people's stories, & I love telling stories. I loved Story Hour in college, where one person read stories aloud while wearing the Story Hat. I love listening to stories on Audible. Stories transmit values & teach about situations without you having to actually having to live through it. Sharing a story with someone lets you share a part of your life.
Carrie Fisher & Richard Adams shaped & enriched my life by sharing their stories with me. Thank you.
