Contempt for the creation
I’m a huge fan of fiction.
Yeah, I mean specific books, movies and shows. But I also mean the concept of fiction.
“Folks telling stories” doesn’t sound so impressive, until you think about how we use them. Every story is a metaphor for our lives in some way, teaching us different ways of thinking.
And different ways of being.
Every culture tells stories. It’s how they instil the values and lessons most important to them in their children.
Not just children, though. While children soak up stories like sponges - which is why I watched The Lion King on a loop growing up - stories rewire adults too. Children might be more malleable, but any story that stirs something in us invites us to consider new possibilities.
That’s why I hold a deep resentment for anyone who has both power over and contempt for great stories.
For example, you are, in fact, allowed to dislike the original Star Wars trilogy. I get it. I’m a fan, but I’m not so rosy-eyed that I can’t see the gaping flaws.
That’s great by me. Varieties of opinion make the world colourful.
But…
If you have contempt for Star Wars, maybe don’t be in charge of making new ones.
When you have Kylo saying, and I’m paraphrasing here, “Let the past die. Forget about the Sith and the Jedi. Also, Luke is a cynical, bitter loser, not the awesome hero you thought he was,” he’s not saying that to Rey. That’s Kathleen Kennedy saying it to you.
A common counterargument I hear to that is, well, of course you’re unhappy with the Sequel Trilogy. You’re just a toxic fanboy who would have hated anything.
Oh, and of course, the usual accusations of -isms get thrown around.
Folks like that must have hated Jessica Jones, especially the first season. It turns out you can have a strong female character exploring feminist themes and superhero fans will lap it up.
Only if the writing is good though.
They must also hate Cobra Kai and Spider-man: No Way Home, which show you can modernise anything if you respect the source material.
Funny that.
Want more proof?
Take any typical tabletop campaign that’s gone for over a few dozen sessions.
It probably started with clear, simple storylines told by clear, simple characters.
Give it a year and it’ll be a delightful mess. The setting will be this complex soup of people and factions, with plot hooks pulling the party in every direction, with a crazy web of abilities, rivalries, obligations, pacts with demons and bounties on them.
And it will only be getting better.
Why?
Because it builds on its foundations.
It respects the source material.
Also – and this is key – it respects the “fans”. The GM and players will understand each other better, allowing them to shape the story in new ways.
Respect the foundations and fiction can take you anywhere.
Speaking of foundations…
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