Nostalgia as Narrative Engine: Longing for Places That Never Existed
Close your eyes and think about “the good old days.” Notice something? They’re sun-dappled. Slightly blurry. Emotionally warm. The music is just right. The colors are saturated but gentle. Now ask yourself: Did it really look like that? Or does memory edit with a generous hand? Nostalgia is one of the most powerful narrative engines in storytelling. It’s also one of the trickiest-because the past we’re nostalgic for often never existed. ...