Personal Responsibility Rant

[kathlaw]

I watched the premiere of "Wonderfalls" tonight, and it coalesced an idea I've had about the series dealing with being given assignments

Comments

[_twilight_]

Out of those shows listed, I've seen "Early Edition" a few times and pretty regularly watch "Tru Calling." "Early Edition" I thought was cool conceptually, but couldn't really get into it. In "Tru Calling," I think the hand that God/Fate/Whatever plays actually forces her to take responsibility. It's like an outside force saying, "clean up my mess or you'll relive today until you do," which I can see why someone would find that irritating. Inside of that though, she has to learn to put aside some of her own desires to do the responsible thing. Personally I like the odd structure of the show and the fact that it doesn't get as soap opera-ey as many character driven shows tend to get. We all have a limited amount of control in our own lives; we control ourselves, but don't control others (ethically at least,) and have limited control over outside events. What I mean by this is you probably can't stop that earthquake or make that sick old relative young and healthy. If you can... teach me your secret. ;>

[kathlaw]

What I mean by this is you probably can't stop that earthquake or make that sick old relative young and healthy.

But one can be prepared for the inevitable earthquake, and observe the pattern of aging for practice when/if you reach that age. It's a matter of attitude, which doesn't need to be influence externally, imho.

[lnhammer]

I agree there is a societal problem of personal responsibilty, but I don't think those shows are strong evidence of its growth. We've been telling these sorts of stories all along. Look at, for ex, Quantum Leap, Groundhog Day, several golden age comic book heroes (I'm thinking in particular of Captain Marvel), a large proportion of classic fairy tales, the Roman novel The Golden Ass, et cet. Practically any tale in which reparation for a transgression is supernatually enforced fits the model, as would Heinlein's class of Learns Better stories.

(Actually, I think the personal responsibility problem is not growning but had been there all along and we are noticing it more - or perhaps it is allowed to be evinced more. But that's another issue entirely.)

---L.

[kathlaw]

It was a relatively "new" thing when Sondheim wrote the lyrics to West Side Story's songs for "Officer Krupke" when blame was apportioned to everyone BUT the Juvenile Delinquent. And that's early 60s, which means my 50s memories that say we weren't allowed to pass off blame easily is likely accurate.

I'm sure it's a cycle cultures of a certain level of "civilization" go through and out the other side, but it seems, along with a lot of other decadent indications, to be moving to the forefront more than it did back in the 70s, for example.

[dossier]

Yes, I see your point, and yeah, I'll agree with it. Though from the handful of episodes of 'Joan of Arcadia', God doesn't seem to be controlling the events around, her, but guiding her make her own decisions based on a differing, wider POV. In essence, it could be reduced to the maxim of learning faith. I'm not a religious person, but faith comes in many forms, and I see so many, my son and his peers, that seem to have no faith in anything at all--and I find that disheartening. I can where the godparent would help with this, though perhaps not pure religion per se, but some understanding that deeds are karmic, so do well and have faith in yourself, and that others can/will do the same.

Maybe God as her Mentor is another description that might fit.

[kathlaw]

Maybe God as her Mentor is another description that might fit.

Weirdly, I have less problem with Joan than the other shows, perhaps because the writers so clearly identify the source of her information. It's not left vague.