We do this primarily through our narrative analyses, where we identify how people on either side of a divisive issue are talking about it and uncover the root cause of disagreement — whether that’s incomplete information, a divisive symbol, ambiguity in a photo or video, or a difference in core values.
Our highest goal with this project is peace, and our strategy for creating a more peaceful world is what we call political mindfulness — a conscious awareness of the mechanisms, dynamics, and institutions that help shape our social and political opinions, attitudes, and perspectives.
We’re not here to change anyone’s point of view or politics, because we believe there is more than one way to live the good life.
John Smith was a white cashier in Philadelphia during the recent protests racial justice demonstrations. Someone attempt to break into his store, and Smith confronted and shot him a black protestor. After public outcry, Smith has been arrested.
John Smith was a cashier in Philadelphia during the recent protests riots. Someone A rioter attempted to break broke into his store, and Smith confronted and shot him was forced to defend himself. The system bent to mob rule, and Smith has been arrested.
(Srikethrough — omission; Bold — addition/variation)
First we identify a divisive story with potential.
Next we aggregate data such as tweets, trends, and articles.
Then we summarize either side of the story within either side's own terms.
Finally, we illustrate how or why the divergence occurred.
Two very different stories about the Kenosha shooting today. The evolution of these narratives is fascinating. After watching all the videos and seeing the tweets today, here's my (very) rough sketch of this process. pic.twitter.com/Qsr53aRNb5
— Shaun Cammack (@shaunjcammack) August 26, 2020
Shaun is the Executive Director of the Narratives Project. He founded the project in 2020 while developing his research into the evolution of political narratives.
Anna coordinates the development of narrative analyses and other written products for the Narratives Project. She attended George Washington University and studied economics and philosophy. Anna has done research with a number of DC think tanks on the topics of education, tax, criminal justice, and economic policy as well as political polarization.
Domenic creates and curates content across all of the Narratives Project’s platforms to help develop the company’s online presence and voice. Dom lives in Kenosha, WI, and studied International Business and Marketing at Marquette University. He also received his MA in Communication & Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University.
Sofia contributes to the research and writing of narrative analyses and other research projects. She also works to refine the Narrative Project’s methods and incorporate new approaches into the methodological framework. Sofia has a master’s degree in Political Science from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and has previously conducted research on political rhetoric, voting rights, and immigration.