So, unfortunately a lot of YA fiction seems premised around the “chosen one” archetype. The protagonists lead boring hard lives but then discover they have special magic powers and that changes their life and the world forever.
Stories are increasingly not about ordinary people who make their lives and the world around them better because of their own inherent skills or hard work.
Film, TV and Books are telling kids only “special” people get to change the world and only “special” people are important. Lots of media is escapist fantasy at all ages and unfortunately they’re giving the message that “change is so hard only super powers will do”.
Don’t let your children be raised solely by the media they consume. Show then that they are special or powerful even without super powers and that all change comes from people. Everything that is good in our world came from people - nothing at all came from gods, super heroes, or magic.
It always makes me laugh how hard the Star Wars equals screwed the pooch on this:
Episode 7: Rey is cool and mysterious! Who could her parents be? I bet they were someone really important and that’s why she has such great power.
Episode 8: Her parents were no one! Great power can come from anywhere, even an abandoned orphan girl! Our heritage does not define who we are.
Episode 9: Just kidding! Her grandpa is Palpatine. Wait? You really thought she got there solely from her own exceptionalism? Haha, you fucking loser! Normies can’t be heroes you idiot! You have to be born into it. Look at Finn, in this movie he doesn’t get an arc because he’s a NOBODY!
Stopped watching all star wars media for a long time after ep 9. That is until I discovered Andor.
Uhhh, we need a list of YA fiction where the protagonist isn’t some special snowflake, born under a golden star, chosen one.
Hunger games. She can hunt because she hunted to support her sister and depressed mother who gave up. They make her head of the revolution because of optics. Katniss isn’t special.
Your names brilliant
Can this little girl get fucking started ? I’m tired of waiting for someone else to take action
/s
Sadly, the little girl did get started, but was promptly detained at the border and her family cannot identify which detention facility she is in.
Also please continue to protest, march, boycott, write to representatives (especially if they are Republican) etc.
It might seem like it is pointless, as it doesn’t have direct effect, as most people works think.
But those actions encourage others with power to do the right thing (government workers, politicians, judges, lawyers etc). It also discourages ones that cooperate with the administration. Companies often look for the easy way, don’t let the easy way be easy. Paul, Weiss for example is receiving effects of capitulating so fast to trump.
Musk is hiding from media now (we should continue protests at Tesla’s as well, he is still in the government, but got a bit smarter)
And if it is “A Practical Guide to Evil” she’s going to have detailed plans about how to stop the “good guys” from keeping her from helping the normal people.
fitting song (youtube)
Children’s stories don’t teach children that dragons exist. They know that. Instead, they teach that dragons can be beaten! Overwhelming odds can be overcome with a sturdy enough heart, sufficient planning, and the power of friendship.
