Essay "Small Narratives" by Torumi Takahashi

Small Narratives—Does History Repeat Itself?
According to the theory of French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard, the "grand narratives" came to an end at the close of the twentieth century. In his book "The Postmodern Condition," he defines grand narratives as the narratives of modernity: the Christian narrative, the Enlightenment narrative of liberation from ignorance and servitude, the Marxist narrative of the emancipation of labor, and the capitalist narrative of liberation from poverty through industrial development.
As a result of their demise, small narratives are now rampant, perhaps as a reaction. This can be seen in all aspects of life, not just in political society but also in culture and sports. While this phenomenon should by no means be condemned, it forces individuals to question how they live their lives.
What is concerning is the reaction to these small narratives. People tend to desire a strong state and follow strong leaders. This inclination likely stems from the belief that it is easier to conform to society than to struggle with one's own way of life and become disappointed in society. I do not intend to suggest that the principle of the pendulum is at work or that "history repeats itself." Much less should we resign ourselves to the idea that mistakes will be repeated.

Bad governance remains in history. Villains are passed down through stories. Dictators are often viewed as heroes.
When times change, cruelty is romanticized, and when both the right and the left converge in the center, history is rewritten.