3 ms·
The point of concern for me in modern mythology is not the unrealistic amount of effort required to succeed, but the portrayal of risk. If the main character i
by Dove 17y ago
The point of concern for me in modern mythology is not the unrealistic amount of effort required to succeed, but the portrayal of risk. If the main character is likeable, good-hearted, and he gives it his all, he never fails. Things just work out for him.
Winston Churchill said, "It is no use saying 'we are doing our best'. You have got to succeed at doing what is necessary." And at the time he said it, it was an unremarkable sentiment echoed in literature. The modern rule seems to be more along the lines of, "If you're nice and put in a decent effort, things will work out."
Some examples: Modern little orphan Annie is met with success after success and kindness after kindness in response to her charm and ingenuity, encountering only minor setbacks; her counterpart in Dickens' Oliver Twist meets nothing but disappointment and injustice for a very long time. The slight justices in the story are only those which are achieved by the characters with a lot of work and risk -- and even they, they often fail. Titanic's Rose drifts into and out of a beautiful adventure, but Gone With The Wind's Scarlet toils and schemes endlessly to gain what she has, even after losing everything through no fault of her own. The central romance of Casablanca does not simply work out as a modern audience would be accustomed to expect; the characters focus on doing what is necessary to achieve their aims.
The older stories have it right. In order to achieve something, one must assess the cost. You can't just do your best and hope. Rather--in the mode of Churchill--you must do what is necessary. And failure is familiar even to those who do that and proceed with best effort and intentions. A generation raised on Disney happy endings is learning the wrong lessons about the necessity of planning and perseverence.
- sliverstorm 17y agoThankfully not all modern stories are like that. The notable example on my mind the book series 'Song of Ice and Fire'. So many bad things happen to good people :( I should probably read Oliver Twist.
- Dove 17y agoYeah, there are exceptions. I'd say this sentiment is practically the entire point of the cult favorite Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead. But that I am surprised by seeing the hero fail in these stories is proof enough to me of the rule.
- presidentender 17y agoStephen King usually deals some pretty harsh blows to his characters as well, and his sympathetic successful characters tend to get where they are by working hard. GRRM's stuff (most prominently 'Song of Ice and Fire') is just plain bleak. Hard work isn't rewarded, because nothing is. I mean, it's good, and a valuable life lesson, but it's sure not motivational.
- sliverstorm 17y agoIt may not be motivational, but god it does train you to love and cling to those tiny tiny little victories.
- diN0bot 17y agopart of me agrees with you, but part of me also sees that our definition of "success" is a moving target. often succeeding from trying is possible, since effort leads to progress and effort creates opportunities....except that "success" has come to be more and more narrowly defined---for example, outrageously high income and celebrity status, rather than stable, sustainable job. edit: attitude is also important to success, so it's not clear to me what the effect of "protagonist fails" would have on audiences. just as catharsis has a different effect than random-failure, inspiring success has a different effect than training-montage.
- jimbokun 17y ago"rather than stable, sustainable job." Those seem to be a vanishing species, these days.
- ojbyrne 17y agoThe last century had Horatio Alger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Alger,_Jr. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Alger,_Jr.): "Many of Alger's works have been described as rags to riches stories, illustrating how down-and-out boys might be able to achieve the American Dream of wealth and success through hard work, courage, determination, and concern for others. This widely held view involves Alger's characters achieving extreme wealth and the subsequent remediation of their "old ghosts." Alger is noted as a significant figure in the history of American cultural and social ideals."