This is something that affects pieces in a particular genre/medium more frequently than others, with superhero/animated flicks, post-apocalyptia, romance novels, Japanese role-playing titles and many anime shows being prime examples. Golly, I wonder what those role-playing games have in common… While falling prey to this mishap will not outright undo the artwork’s storytelling merits, it’ll have an impact on its “feel”, one that’ll likely mold the narrative’s attitude in a way that makes it gradually more akin to its contemporaries and less noteworthy as a whole. Such missteps may include employing a tone that’s either too po-faced, cloying or similar to what’s come before for the book/game/film/show to stand out or present familiar themes in a fetching context. Weiland expounded in her write-up on unique themes, making use of timeworn motifs in a fashion identical to past works can result in the participant not giving much thought to the artist’s message since they’ve already been exposed to it beforehand (and more often than not in a superior form). These are two elements that are indispensable to preventing the symbolism or commentary from becoming on-the-nose or uninspired in its delivery. Unfortunately, and it pains me to say this, it’s a problematic trend that’s been cropping up in sundry works of art and it’s one that can ultimately rob whatever message they’re conveying of flavor and subtlety. Since humans are natural thrill-seekers, having such lessons (subtly) baked into entertainment can be convenient and efficient without hampering the immersion factor. It also doesn’t hurt that they bypass the preachiness and boredom that may entail from learning them in a less colorful context mostly devoid of emotional involvement such as attending classes and consuming academic content.īut as beneficial as the need to address relevant themes and topics in entertainment is, this mustn’t of course come at the cost of embodying a unique tone or audiovisual aesthetic that may juxtapose with the solemnness and seriousness of the message, especially given how bleak and baleful the current state of affairs is ’round the globe. The former is especially critical given that the whole reason lessons are even a thing is because there exists an ill that people need to avoid if they wish to lead fulfilling and stable lives. (Source: Chaotic Diversity – Eileen Hwang) More importantly, to purge one’s works of this kind of commentary would also reduce the number of chances for learning and increased empathy in human beings. While countless people may argue that their art ought to be devoid of the politics and messages they believe don’t belong in entertainment, they ignore the fact that media, as a product of individuals with sundry beliefs and background shaped by their environment, is inherently political. This, I believe, is something I greatly appreciate. From the likes of God of War (2018) and Moonlight that tackled and arraigned toxic masculinity, to works such as The Haunting of Hill House (2018) and From The New World (2012) that put a premium on the importance of collective empathy in the face of trauma and/or tribalism, artists felt justified in their desire to have a conversation about topics deeply rooted in sociocultural convention and tainted by the reemergence of historical habits that infringed upon the individuality of others in the name of a complacent and stable society.Īs the Aristotelian saying goes, “Art imitates life” (or “life imitates art” if you’re more of an Oscar Wilde feller. Such a sentiment hardly went unnoticed in the eyes and ears of creative talents in the realms of gaming, film, television and literature. (Source: Rolling Stone) You Can’t Rush Art Indeed, with art being a refuge of sorts for many people wishing to absorb and express ideas they identify with and/or that’re implemented in some official capacity in their day-to-day lives, it makes sense that the potential for thematic derring-do is tangibly present in fiction. legalizing LGBT rights, drug use, etc.) in the face of conformity, the rough transition Earth is experiencing is impacting all walks of life and industries, including creative ones. right tug of war, the breakdown in international relationships and the struggle to enact progressive measures (e.g. It’s fair to say recent times, particularly the 2010s, have proven rather… eventful.įrom the Arab Spring that greeted the decade’s dawn to the rise of neo-nationalism around the halfway mark, the spherical abode humankind has called home for millions of years is going through a bit of a sociocultural upheaval.
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