The Magic Of Story Telling

What makes the human race so unique? So intuitive? So artistic? It is because of our expressiveness; pieces of art and literature like Forrest Gump and Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. They allow an individual's creativity to flourish. Although this film and novel are not very similar, they have one major aspect in common; the art of story telling. Each are unquestionably powerful, even inspirational. They are stories that effectively convey their messages. Yet, these stories are not necessarily the "truth". "That's what fiction is for. It's for getting at the truth when the truth isn't sufficient for the truth. The pig factory is there for those dreams of slaughter-they were quite real inside of me," (O'Brien). The telling of stories, even if they are fictitious, allows for the author's purpose to more easily be revealed. It is the fiction that makes the artist capable of accentuating his/her point, a hyperbole if you will. It is what O'Brien gives his audience in The Things They Carried. His vast use of metafiction creates a vivid depiction of his experiences in the Vietnam War (even if the stories are not 100% true).
Momma says, "Life's like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get," (Forrest Gump). I don't know if such a simple phrase has ever made so much sense. This is why we need story telling- to enlighten people, and maybe give them a better understanding of the chocolate that they picked. "A trio of assests lift Forrest Gump above the average "lifestory" drama: its optimism, freshness, and emotional honesty," (Berardinelli, Reelviews). The pure emotion that perpetuates from each scene in this movie is certainly honest; so honest that is has even caused tears to fall from my eyes. Yet, Forrest Gump is only a story, developed by fictitious detail. It is this facet of storytelling, the use of fiction, that gives stories their power.