Stories may be fiction, but they still influence and are influenced by the world around us. Although the brigata members escape the despair of the plague in Florence, and swear to never hear about bad news from the outside world, the stories they tell are still, in some shape or form, influenced by the reality in which they live in. Storytelling isn't an escape from reality, as it in some way commentates on an aspect of the real world. At the same time, storytelling influences the audience. It inspires, it educates, and, in the case of the brigata members, it prepares people to face the bleakness of reality.
Fiction and Reality
Storytelling allows people to critique the world they live in while avoiding the repercussions they would face in the real world. For example, on day 1, story 4, Dioneo tells a story of a monk hiding a woman and sleeping with her and catching his Abbott sleep with the same woman. At the time, clergy members were thought to be celibate and free from sexual temptation, and calling them otherwise would be sacrilegious and would get the accuser shunned from their community. However, in the space of storytelling, the stories appear to be fake and can be taken as simply a parody instead of commentary. Thus, Dioneo can implicitly critique how religious figures lie about their sexual desires while avoiding any consequences for doing so outside of this space.
Youth and Activity
In professor Shemek's second lecture, she describes how the brigata members remain cheerful through the harsh plague in Florence by telling stories. They don't have to face the brutality of the plague, but instead can relish in fun and pleasure through leisurely daydreaming and other forms of entertainment. The brigata doesn't become hardened and cold to their grim reality. Instead, they're revitalized. They remain young and energetic, full of creative and spiritual energy. They make jokes and laugh and discuss love and romance. They continue living as if their lives were peaceful.
The microcosms of UCI
UCI on the surface may appear to simply be a college, a place only to get a diploma, where people are focused on schoolwork and pass by each other without a second glance. However, people stay at UCI for more than just their classes. Many people join a sorority or fraternity, play in a sports team, or find other clubs that support their race, gender, or whatever their identity is. Additionally, many clubs serve niche interests like board games, hiking, books, and more.
Within these clubs, students find people like themselves and connect not just on the subject of their club, but can find other parts of their lives to discuss and bond over. The best kinds of communities are formed within clubs.
Outside of clubs, other spaces in UCI provide a transformative space to suit the needs of its students. For instance, the library is quiet, allowing students a space away from distractions, and it also holds books of all kind of knowledge, from medical books to literary analysis and many more works of fiction and nonfiction.
Finally, the food courts at UCI act just like restaurants outside of UCI. They satisfy a student's hunger and provide a large space for a group to socialize and possibly meet new people. Historically, people bond over eating and sharing food, and places like the Anteatery or UTC provide that space to develop new friendships. Even if someone isn't looking to make friends, the food courts provide a relaxing break from the stress of their coursework.
Creating Connections
Clubs are an excellent opportunity to connect with people just like you. Do you have a hobby you want to explore? There's a great chance that a club exists for that hobby: from chess, to hiking, to many other niche hobbies. What about a sport you want to compete in? There's a wide variety of club sports, like football, tennis, golf, etc. And if a student wants to explore their identity, there's a club that can suit that need. There's clubs for ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and much more.
The benefit of clubs is they are a world for people to easily talk about their interests. And that's because everyone is already united on a common interest. Not only is it easy for people to quickly talk about what they like about their interests, but through that initial icebreaker they can start forming deeper bonds, whether it's within the club or outside about something else.
The value of clubs cannot be overstated. Clubs allow people to develop their interests, to explore their identity, and to bond with others in a deep, meaningful way.
Archive of Knowledge
The libraries provides a quiet environment for students to study in. Langson Library, for instance, contains lots of tables, couches, and computers for the students to sit at and focus on their coursework with little temptation. However, the libraries don't solely function as a quiet place. They also contain many materials like pencils, staples, and markers in case students don't have those resources on hand, and also services like printing, charging, and room reservations to further suit a student's academic needs.
In addition, the libraries contain nearly unlimited knowledge. In the Science Library, the shelves are full of scientific books, from biological sciences, to medical practices, and more. In Langson Library, students can find books about literature, whether fiction or analysis of other books, including books from Eastern countries.
While the libraries seem to be a solitary environment, they are also a place to bond with others. Literature is an integral part of any culture, and in the libraries, they can find all sorts of books. Whether someone wants to find a fun book to read for their book club, or read something that makes them think about their society and start conversations about the world they live in, they can find what they need at these libraries. Through this archive of knowledge, people can learn from those who have passed and have written their knowledge for our benefit.
Building Community
The Anteatery is a large dining hall which serves a variety of meals, drinks, and desserts. A student who wants to eat can have whatever they want: juicy fruit, meat and sides, or cookies and ice cream, they're all made fresh in the Anteatery. And more, they can have as many drinks or condiments as they please.
After choosing their meal, students can now relax at the many tables. There, they feel a real sense of community by eating and engaging with others. This place is a great spot for team building, or to hang out with a large group of friends after midterms. Even if a student doesn't want to socialize, these food courts provide a nice break from the stress of their coursework.
Along with The Anteatery, there are many more places to eat for a student to choose from. Not just dining halls, but food courts too. UTC is a very popular place, which contains, among other buildings, fast food and sit-down restaurants. For those feeling homesick, UTC can feel like they're in their hometown when they eat at their favorite restaurant. Just like the dining halls, UTC is a popular place to bond with others in a restaurant familiar to them, and thus students are encouraged to hang out and socialize, forming a sense of community with other students.