The central drama of a story or narrative
seduces the intellect and excites the reader
but its "meaning" invariably ignores its context
as well as greater realities encompassing its context.
Academic curricula, for example, depend on hierarchies in which
implicit meanings take possession of academic categories.
History for example dramatizes "important" events, people and nations
while ignoring almost everything else, including most lives and experiences.
Science is pervaded with grade B thrillers
about which formula can unlock what doors
and what measures are important enough
to ignore everything else.
Even medicine has within its foundations
stories about each organ and cell, and
their influence on why and how we die,
that ignores why and how we live.
Most ideals and beliefs are focal points
that may improve our behavior, within limits,
but if treated as absolutes, they may harm,
particularly insofar as we treat others as false.