"as we have given up stories of rogue initiative in favor of working within complex social, economic and environmental systems" - The change from nineteenth century "classic" novels to late 20th-century media and today's storytelling strikes me as very stark. Just for one example, even with an ecological focus, "My First Summer in the Sierra" is about one person's perceptions and lessons, while "The Overstory" has no single main character. In YA literature, the Keeper of the Lost Cities series constantly frustrates me because the main character (female) has to run all her ideas by someone. The message is that any individual, no matter how powerful, can make misjudgments; we all need friends. But it's frustrating to wait for chapters to roll by before she can act on a hunch. A nineteenth-century novel would have had her launched on the whaleroad at the first thought of it. It's funny. I agree in principle with the "systems" books, but it's more fun to read and get carried away with rogue individuals.
"as we have given up stories of rogue initiative in favor of working within complex social, economic and environmental systems" - The change from nineteenth century "classic" novels to late 20th-century media and today's storytelling strikes me as very stark. Just for one example, even with an ecological focus, "My First Summer in the Sierra" is about one person's perceptions and lessons, while "The Overstory" has no single main character. In YA literature, the Keeper of the Lost Cities series constantly frustrates me because the main character (female) has to run all her ideas by someone. The message is that any individual, no matter how powerful, can make misjudgments; we all need friends. But it's frustrating to wait for chapters to roll by before she can act on a hunch. A nineteenth-century novel would have had her launched on the whaleroad at the first thought of it. It's funny. I agree in principle with the "systems" books, but it's more fun to read and get carried away with rogue individuals.
Yes! I like active heroes who defy convention, but they seem out of step in a focus-grouped world.
Definitely! Even the best teamwork does slow a hero down. 🫣