You probably remember a story that excited and captivated you when you were a child. A personal favourite you never stopped being fond of. (Perhaps you remember hundreds. Perhaps you’re still a child. But even if you’re an adult who has abandoned ‘child-like’ interests many years ago, you likely remember at least one.) Maybe someone told it or read it aloud to you. Maybe you’ve read it yourself in a book – or even in a comic book, or seen it in a film or on stage, even played through it in a video game!
It might have been a purely fictional story, fruit of an artist’s genius and careful labour; it might have been a true one, well-documented historically; it might have been one of those myths and legends where imagination and reality overlap. But whichever realm it sprang from, and whatever its medium might have been, it was likely one of two types of stories.
The first would be a heroic story. An epic struggle against all odds, full of suspense and drama. A tale where the hero accomplishes something truly hard, something that perhaps many – maybe even the very same hero! – thought to be impossible. Such a feat requires courage, skill, persistence, faith, sacrifice – and sometimes a fair bit of luck, as well! (Or is it destiny? Some will never agree on that.) Such a feat also brings inspiration, happiness and hope to the hearts of not only those who were directly affected (say, rescued by the hero), but to anyone hearing of it! Heroic stories often involve slaying monsters, outwitting supernatural entities, leading armies in great battles, using great magical powers or outright saving the universe. But something as simple and seemingly mundane as a child standing up to a playground bully or a person helping an animal in peril can truly be heroic as well! It is not so much the nature of the challenge as how one overcomes it that sets our hearts ablaze.
The second one is far less dramatic, but often no less inspiring: it is a wholesome tale of things going well. It may be what we call a “slice of life” – people, cute animals, fairies or any other characters just going about their everyday business: playing, cooking, raising a family, harvesting apples, building cities, decorating for a holiday... It may be more exciting than that, too! It may involve an adventure, exploration, contests or travels – but those that take place without any serious danger, conflict or drama: just a perfect child’s day out in the fields of imagination.
Enjoying, wanting, even needing both types of stories is part of natural human life. We all have times when we aspire to do something great, to defeat the odds, to take a step forward and accomplish something new. Times of action, times of aspiration. But we also have periods of rest: times when we just want things to be well, when we want to peacefully sit and enjoy life. And thus both types of stories exist for people of all ages and affinities: from simple picture-books, cartoons and toys meant for babies and small toddlers, to detailed and voluminous works of art or scholarship meant for an educated and patient reader or viewer.
However, that reason is not the only one: I have another as well, less wholesome, darker, that may give some dramatic and heroic chapters to our story here. Namely, there are many factors in the world – that have always existed, but that may be more present than ever before in this globalized age – that are opposed to these natural, beautiful, necessary types of stories. People and organizations who are enemies of the heroic, of the wholesome, of the beautiful. Enemies of inspiration – and of hope. Very real enemies that fight against these stories for reasons no different than those of so many villains of myth and fantasy: because people with hope, vision and inspiration are dangerous adversaries, while those without them are easily manipulated and turned into puppets. They want to control and subdue. Of course, they have physical means at their disposal as well: but it is so much more discreet and oftentimes even more efficient to fight on another battlefield: to destroy the stories.
While direct oblivion surely is an enemy of any story, the days of book-burning are mostly past: the villains’ main weapons today are of a different kind. After all, in a world inhabited by billions of people and so connected through numerous networks of flesh and blood and webs and bytes, it is hard to truly destroy the knowledge of even one strong story, let alone all of them. But the enemy has other means: two main weapons that seemingly contradict, and in fact perfectly complement each other.
On the one hand, they try to make you take no note of the stories. To disdain them, to leave them in the past. Cartoons, fantasy books, toys and games – those are for little kids, aren’t they? Aren’t they a little silly? Aren’t you ashamed to be so much into them at your age? After all, some things just don’t exist in real life. You know, dragons, elves and the like. Aliens from outer space or other dimensions. Courage that overcomes all odds. Unlimited compassion. True love. It’s all fiction. So what if that novel has adult characters in a realistic setting, you’re telling me they find their soulmates, defeat the evil corporate adversary and live happily ever after? Ugh, honey, that’s a fairytale. The real world doesn’t work like that. Homo homini lupus. Eat or be eaten. Forget those daydreams. And stop reading that naive garbage – I mean, it’s not real art. True art is profound, and dark, and cynical. I could go on – but I believe you understand.
And on the other hand, they try to… supply you with the stories you crave. Yes, yes, you read it right. But those stories will be crippled, banalized, watered-down, commercialized, soulless. Why wouldn’t they earn money on your desire for heroism or happiness? There you go, all the brave heroes and heroines, beautiful princes and princesses and fantasy creatures you could wish for, now in ten different colours! Doesn’t matter that they’re all the same beneath the thin layer of paint. Doesn’t matter that they all have slightly psychotic smiles. What do you mean, real people don’t smile that way? This is fantasy! Everything you can imagine is yours! Why bother with anything in the real world, when it can never be as good and shiny as this! Don’t forget the amazing, time-limited bonus you get if you log on every hour!
If what they are trying to say sounds horrifying, and more so, horrifyingly wrong, welcome, kindred spirit! Stay awhile, and listen.
If you believe as firmly as Bilbo Baggins did that a light from the shadows shall spring…
If you ever stayed up late into the night, excitedly turning the pages of a book…
If you knew friendship was magic even before Twilight Sparkle realized the same…
If you know that hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul…
If you know that a powerful Force is within each of us even if we (alas! ;)) cannot have lightsabers…
If you ever held your breath as a clearing among the trees looked as if it came straight from Fairyland…
If you have ever been moved by a story or a song so much that you felt like crying
If you were ever so inspired that you felt you could accomplish anything…
If you agree with Vasilisa that the morning is wiser than the evening…
If you know that every end is merely a new beginning…
…then you know how much we need tales of heroes (and ogres for them to conquer!), of love, of courage, of hope.
So, remember that childhood story, or two, or dozens and hundreds. Seek out new ones. Create your own! If you wish, come with me, and let us tread the Elvenpath together. Even if it turns out to be a short walk – it shall be a part of a timeless adventure. Let us travel countless worlds, and make our own a little bit better with each step.
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