Stories Make Sense

Possessed: the historical ideas that haunt us by USC Faculty: Andrew Berns, Matt Kisner, Mary Nickel
S2 · E5
Sep 12, 2026
58:45

Episode notes

today's episode of Possessed, we consider whether stories are supposed to make sense. From childhood on, we're taught that stories have a moral, a lesson to teach, some edifying message. In other words, stories are supposed to make sense. But it wasn't always this way. What are the educational, cultural, spiritual consequences of believing that the stories that inspire our lives should have a single main point? Our guest today is Mary Beth Gorman Craig. Mary Beth is an actor, director, intimacy coordinator, and text dialect coach. She teaches in the Department of Theater and Dance at USC.

Keywords

theatre
orpheus