I think it's interesting, and instructive, to look at 21st century filmmaking. How the popular storytelling has grown more simplistic, often to reach a narrow definition of heroism and villainy. Which has changed radically, and now entire societies have become so tribal that they've abandoned moral dimension in favor of forever taking sides, forever being reactive when a real hero is proactive.
I do think this problem can be solved by more classically-straightforward proactive characters who have serious goals and interests. Something like "Ted Lasso" is an interesting example, because "new coach" is a trope that very cleanly recognizes proactive thinking within a character. Proactivity predictably scares people in an era where actual villains and wannabe villains have so much administrative power to punish anyone with positive aspirations.
I think it's interesting, and instructive, to look at 21st century filmmaking. How the popular storytelling has grown more simplistic, often to reach a narrow definition of heroism and villainy. Which has changed radically, and now entire societies have become so tribal that they've abandoned moral dimension in favor of forever taking sides, forever being reactive when a real hero is proactive.
I do think this problem can be solved by more classically-straightforward proactive characters who have serious goals and interests. Something like "Ted Lasso" is an interesting example, because "new coach" is a trope that very cleanly recognizes proactive thinking within a character. Proactivity predictably scares people in an era where actual villains and wannabe villains have so much administrative power to punish anyone with positive aspirations.
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