A Critique of Fantasy Theme
By: Allison Darrah
Fantasy Theme analysis was the tool Ernest
Bormann used to study a type of communication that takes place in small groups.
In critiqing Fantasy Theme I feel this to be more of a humanistic theory
as opposed to scientific. "Unlike scientists, humanists don't have an agreed-on
five point set of criteria for evaluating their theories" (39). Humanists do
however urge that theories should fit some or all of the following functions:
create understanding, identify values, inspire aesthetic appreciation, stimulate
agreement and change society (35).
When trying to understand Fantasy Theme, I picture a group of students
sitting around the table at a local coffee shop. The students get to talking about
school, and how their quarters are going so far. One student comments that this is
her toughest quarter yet. Another student then adds that he also is having a difficult
quarter. Then one by one, the students share their stories of difficulty and increase
in work load. This group becomes cohesive because they are all able to relate to each other
and share common stories.
Looking at Fantasy Theme from a humanistic stand point,
we can apply it to the five Humanistic Standards. First the theory
must carry a new understanding of people. Bormann's fantasy theme
is self-referential, or "including yourself as a constituent of your
own construction" (40). Bormanns theory gives an understanding of why groups
interact the way they do and lets others be spectators observing for themselves.
Secondly, the theory must clarify values. "A good humanistic theory brings
people's values into the open" (40). "Since fantasy theme analysis is based on the
assumption that meaning, emotion, and motive for action are manifest on the content of a
message, value clarifications is a particular strength of Symbolic convergence theory"
(40).
The third humanistic standard is aesthetic appeal. A good
humanistic theory is art. Although some critics feel Bormann's work to be overdrawn, it is hard not to be entertained by the descriptions of fantasy themes that we see emerge.
The fourth standard is that a theory must have a community of agreement.
"We can identify a good humanistic theory by the amount of support it generates within a
community of like-minded scholars" (41). "A rhetorical theory's can't meet the community
of agreement standard unless it becomes the subject of widespread analysis" (42). Bormann
definitely did this correctly. He published his ideas in major journals that are open to
rhetorical scholarship, and when confronted by critics he responded publicly and convincingly.
The fifth and final humanistic standard is reform of society.
They say that a good humanistic theory often generates change. "Fantasy theme
analysis reliably documents rhetorical visions that contain motives to
go public, gain converts, and use the mass media to spread their truth"
(42). Bormann designed a theory which understands fantasy theme analysis as "a liberal and humanizing art, a scholarly endeavor which aims to illuminate the human condition" (42).
Ernest Bormann, I feel accurately described the interactions of groups as they moved through fantasy themes together. It is hard not to notice these taking place as we interact with school groups and our jobs. These fantasy theme's surround us daily.
Griffin, E. (1997) A First Look At Communication Theory.New York: McGraw Hill.
To connect with the Winter 2000 Web Notebook click here
click here to go back to fantasy title page.
To read a critique of Coordinated Management of Meaning, a similiar
theory to Fantasy Theme, click here. This text is similiar because
it explains the four meanings of Persons-In-Conversation, that
coincide with the Fantasy Theme Chain.