I was wondering about that. It's nice to have it explained.
[ramble] Maybe since the 50's & 60's (at least the approximate impression I get) there seems to be a larger-scale societal push to keep in motion & always staying fresh took on a new value for people. It was presented by TV shows. People started being fuddy duddies. Or stodgy. Or out of touch. Everyone had to be hip and cool. Keep up with the times, man. Nobody was admired for being the company man who'd devoted his life's work to one firm, for being stable. "They" tend to preach that moving constantly and always being adaptable is good, if not absolutely necessary in life. It's probably been going on a lot longer than that, but it seems to have taken on a new dimension with broadcast media.
I think the recession may be having a positive effect in some sense. People are more worried about staying in or getting to the black. More concerned with putting good food on the table and less concerned with keeping up with the Joneses' shiny new toys. At least that's what I glean from the ads I see and hear. Maybe that's just what they want us to believe. [/ramble]
I think that's the first time I've heard that theory, and it's an interesting one. It makes me think a bit about Captain Jack Sparrow's line in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie: "Wherever we want to go, we'll go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails--that's what a ship needs. But what a ship is...what the Black Pearl really is...is freedom."
Which in turn makes me think of other media about wanderers, like the Doctor in Doctor Who, who travels throughout all time and space, or Star Trek, with its emphasis on exploration and boldly going where no one had gone before. (Both of which started in the 1960s, which supports your theory.) The crew of Serenity are a newer example of the idea, although they kept moving due to necessity as much as choice.
I'm kind of on both sides of the issue. I think it's unfair to think of people as being stodgy or unadventurous when they stay in one place, and I also think it's stifling to tell people that they shouldn't move from place to place. This is one reason why I'm not fond of aphorisms in general--they tend to ignore the immensely varied experience of all humanity and simply posit a brief comment to serve as universal advice. Probably why there are so many contradicting maxims as well.
I do think there are some positive effects to the recession, and I think a lot of that has to do with people's perceptions shifting. I hope that people are becoming more compassionate and understanding of others, less classist, and less swift to judge, but I know that it's not terribly likely. Still, if even a few people have positive shifts in their perceptions, it's helpful. (I also appreciate that the green movement means that I can request not to have a bag at the grocery store without having people look at me like I'm a total dork. Shallow but true.)
I'm with you on being on both sides of the issue. I think people should be who they're comfortable being and do what they're comfortable doing (as long as it's not infringing on anyone else's ability to do the same). I think moderation is the best goal for most people. Find the happy medium that works for you. Trying to meet a society ideal is just kind of pointless.
I'm pretty sure people have been selling adventure stories as long as there have been people to sell it to. The part that really bugs me about television is that it is ubiquitous so the audience can be pretty much everyone, anywhere, at anytime.
It reminds me of the FDA (I think it was the FDA anyway) trying to advertise for good nutrition & taking care of yourself. They simply couldn't afford to keep up with junk food companies whose entire business consists of producing and marketing their product. 100 good, healthy ads do not balance out 100,000 bad ones.
[ramble]
Maybe since the 50's & 60's (at least the approximate impression I get) there seems to be a larger-scale societal push to keep in motion & always staying fresh took on a new value for people. It was presented by TV shows. People started being fuddy duddies. Or stodgy. Or out of touch. Everyone had to be hip and cool. Keep up with the times, man. Nobody was admired for being the company man who'd devoted his life's work to one firm, for being stable. "They" tend to preach that moving constantly and always being adaptable is good, if not absolutely necessary in life. It's probably been going on a lot longer than that, but it seems to have taken on a new dimension with broadcast media.
I think the recession may be having a positive effect in some sense. People are more worried about staying in or getting to the black. More concerned with putting good food on the table and less concerned with keeping up with the Joneses' shiny new toys. At least that's what I glean from the ads I see and hear. Maybe that's just what they want us to believe.
[/ramble]
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I think that's the first time I've heard that theory, and it's an interesting one. It makes me think a bit about Captain Jack Sparrow's line in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie: "Wherever we want to go, we'll go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails--that's what a ship needs. But what a ship is...what the Black Pearl really is...is freedom."
Which in turn makes me think of other media about wanderers, like the Doctor in Doctor Who, who travels throughout all time and space, or Star Trek, with its emphasis on exploration and boldly going where no one had gone before. (Both of which started in the 1960s, which supports your theory.) The crew of Serenity are a newer example of the idea, although they kept moving due to necessity as much as choice.
I'm kind of on both sides of the issue. I think it's unfair to think of people as being stodgy or unadventurous when they stay in one place, and I also think it's stifling to tell people that they shouldn't move from place to place. This is one reason why I'm not fond of aphorisms in general--they tend to ignore the immensely varied experience of all humanity and simply posit a brief comment to serve as universal advice. Probably why there are so many contradicting maxims as well.
I do think there are some positive effects to the recession, and I think a lot of that has to do with people's perceptions shifting. I hope that people are becoming more compassionate and understanding of others, less classist, and less swift to judge, but I know that it's not terribly likely. Still, if even a few people have positive shifts in their perceptions, it's helpful. (I also appreciate that the green movement means that I can request not to have a bag at the grocery store without having people look at me like I'm a total dork. Shallow but true.)
Reply
I'm pretty sure people have been selling adventure stories as long as there have been people to sell it to. The part that really bugs me about television is that it is ubiquitous so the audience can be pretty much everyone, anywhere, at anytime.
It reminds me of the FDA (I think it was the FDA anyway) trying to advertise for good nutrition & taking care of yourself. They simply couldn't afford to keep up with junk food companies whose entire business consists of producing and marketing their product. 100 good, healthy ads do not balance out 100,000 bad ones.
Reply
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