In fiction, underdogs often win. And underdogs are often tend to be shown as virtuous whereas in reality they have often turn pretty brutal after long oppression.
In reality, those with power usually win. Power begets more power for a long time until things structurally change, usually after centuries.
Fiction does tend to emphasize the exceptions. We don’t focus on the norms; we focus on the outliers.
So reality is filled with norms, and fiction is filled with outliers.
Replies (13)
"million-to-one chances happen nine times out of ten”
iykyk
It is a coping mechanism and a sad reality that I do still hope for every underdog to win.
This makes me feel like crying.
But without believing fairy tales, those constantly oppressed would have committed suicide long ago.
Truth is, exceptions still exist.
Lyn Alden
In fiction, underdogs often win. And underdogs are often tend to be shown as virtuous whereas in reality they have often turn pretty brutal after long oppression.
In reality, those with power usually win. Power begets more power for a long time until things structurally change, usually after centuries.
Fiction does tend to emphasize the exceptions. We don’t focus on the norms; we focus on the outliers.
So reality is filled with norms, and fiction is filled with outliers.
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Is this your roundabout way of saying stablecoins are going to triumph over bitcoin?
In reality most losers are losers for a reason, and helping them rarely works.
Power is incentivized to promote underdog stories (Hollywood) to appease the public by letting them think it’s possible to win
Literature throughout history frames all stories within the archetype of good vs evil. A more accurate story of history would be evil vs evil, with the rest of us as collateral damage.
Reminds me of the first time I read Game of Thrones, this was probably 15 years ago. It was incredible to see more brutal reality portrayed in the story, and many of my favorite characters getting killed off suddenly.
But that’s what makes great stories - it’s the ‘outliers’ as you call them. The ‘norms’ lead regular lives and that’s no good for exciting storytelling.
It’s the same in our day to day lives. It’s the day you had a flat tyre, in the rain, on the way to a job interview that makes for a good tale - not the day when everything happens as expected and it essentially a non-event
And then there’s allegory…
Bc fiction usually shows the moments of change and those who make it possible . Why would fiction focus on the "norm" that lasts for centuries? What's interesting about it? Documentaries and news outlets do that 😆
Fiction points back towards both myths and legends, which tend to be the stories of values and virtues for a particular society. This points the way back towards the recovery of those values and virtues in hard times, which is why power wins in the short-term, but value wins in the long term.
That’s why I like fiction, they are the better stories to tell, read and listen. More inspiring, no? But good point from you, Lyn.
When you get a message from reality, it’s best to listen.
Is this about Israel and Gaza and how we just have to accept that Israel is gonna get away with murdering all those people in order to get their beachfront property?
