We are complex. We are amalgamations of our circumstances, genetics, and history. Our perspective is sculpted by myriad factors. Yet, despite this, we are constantly simplifying our universe into moralistic binaries: good and bad, right and wrong, honor and dishonor, progress and stagnation, order and anarchy, villain and hero... Our fables reflect this inclination towards dualism. Modern literature often scoffs at these classic tropes, dismissing characters who embody traditional roles as one-dimensional. But, in fact, these characters are two dimensional. They have shape and personality. They represent values and ideas, just not our full humanity. Sometimes being human is just too confusing to be productive. Sometimes life has too many pieces for us to contend with. Sometimes we need to escape our complexity and two dimensional stories allow us to do that.
There is a pure cathartic thrill I get from watching a character do the right thing. When I see a character that represents the values my society has exalted, I feel inspired and relieved. Yes, morality is subjective, but that doesn't make it any less real. For me, the idea that goodness could carry me into an adventure, the idea that an obstacle could be over come by simply doing the right thing, is marvelous.
Two dimensional stories allow us to experience a world where our dualistic constructions are real and tangible. Stories allow us to mechanize our society into something we can understand, something we can work with. They give us the illusion of control. Without evil it is hard to motivate people to be good. Without a common goal, a common moral dictionary, a common narrative, society as we know it would cease to function.
I am not saying some of these classic narratives haven't been harmful. I actually think dualism is at the root of a lot of our problems, but it is also how we process the world. Neither am I saying there isn’t a place for stories that attempt to sculpt the true human figure. But I believe stories need not be limited by either outdated simplification or staunch realism.
There is a pure cathartic thrill I get from watching a character do the right thing. When I see a character that represents the values my society has exalted, I feel inspired and relieved. Yes, morality is subjective, but that doesn't make it any less real. For me, the idea that goodness could carry me into an adventure, the idea that an obstacle could be over come by simply doing the right thing, is marvelous.
Two dimensional stories allow us to experience a world where our dualistic constructions are real and tangible. Stories allow us to mechanize our society into something we can understand, something we can work with. They give us the illusion of control. Without evil it is hard to motivate people to be good. Without a common goal, a common moral dictionary, a common narrative, society as we know it would cease to function.
I am not saying some of these classic narratives haven't been harmful. I actually think dualism is at the root of a lot of our problems, but it is also how we process the world. Neither am I saying there isn’t a place for stories that attempt to sculpt the true human figure. But I believe stories need not be limited by either outdated simplification or staunch realism.
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