A new cultural obsession rising

There are a lot of perennial themes that show up all the time in stories.  Here are a few common ones:

  • Hope for a better future.
  • Refusal to submit to tyranny.
  • Satisfaction in mutual romantic love.
  • Loyalty in mutual friendship.
  • Choosing bravery despite fear.
  • Choosing peace despite conflict.
  • Growth through accepting new experiences.

    And probably there are a lot more.

    Those are all true and good themes.  Sadly, sometimes they can be twisted in ways that are wrong.  Usually a lot relies on how wise the author is, and how carefully the author considers what their story is ultimately saying.

    Often, an entire culture will be obsessed with one specific manifestation of a perennial theme for awhile.  These obsessions tend to last for ten to twenty years at a time.  You can tell what that manifestation is because virtually all the most popular stories will include it, even if it's not an inherent part of the genre.

    Sometimes this manifestation is positive.  Sometimes this manifestation is negative.  Always, it shows what the culture is thinking about.

    In the 1950s and 1960s, the American cultural obsession was obviously hope, specifically manifested as: "Science will save us," and/or "The American Dream will save us."

    In the 1990s, I believe the American cultural obsession was friendship, specifically manifested as: "Include the 'other' in your friend group."  If I'm remembering correctly, I believe all the most popular stories of that era were focused around ensemble casts with a lot of diverse personalities, and often a lot of diversity in gender and race.

    Since roughly around 2005, I believe the cultural obsession has been romantic love, specifically manifested as: "Break the law of chastity as often as possible."

    Since early 2023, I have been noticing a new cultural obsession rising, causing the old one to gradually wane.  The new cultural obsession seems to be resistance to tyranny, specifically manifested as: "Violence solves problems."

    Please be careful.

    Violence used in defense can sometimes be appropriate.  But aggression, starting a fight with fists or bombs or words, is not.  And I believe this new theme is drifting rapidly towards becoming, "Starting a war solves problems."

    Please be careful.

    Don't take up swords, even metaphorical ones.  Seek for peaceful solutions.  Seek for common ground that encourages enemies to soften to allies.  That takes a lot longer, and it tends to be a lot more difficult, but it has the power to cause permanent improvements.  It's the only thing that does.

    Resist tyranny by focusing on building something better, and inviting others to help.