Of note in the world of television, AMC's highly acclaimed Better Call Saul just had its finale. Common Sense Media, which tries to give some clarity to the type of content you can expect from various movies, novels, and television shows, includes these details:
I'm stuck wondering, as I think about these popular shows, Is this it? Are we really stuck in a world in which the most popular, highly acclaimed, and well-made stories have gratuitous violence, sex, and language all while providing no positive messages and no positive role models?
What kind of a culture devotes its money, talents, and time to create stories like this?
- Positive Messages: "Not Present"
- Positive Role Models: "Not Present"
- The show also opens with trial of three teenagers who broke into a morgue, beheaded a corpse, and used it for sex -- all filmed, of course, and the the film is presented in all its glory to the fictional jury as well as to us, the audience.
- Positive Messages: "Not Present"
- Positive Role Models: "Not Present"
- Plus high ratings for depicting violence, sex, and drug abuse.
- Positive Messages: "Not Present"
- Positive Role Models: "Not Present"
- Violence: "Frequent graphic, gory violence, including executions and their bloody aftermath, and large-scale battles with powerful and gruesome fight scenes ... Sexual violence also is graphically depicted."
- Sex: "Extensive male and female nudity; sex is graphically portrayed." (including adultery, prostitution, incest, and rape)
- Language: Every bit of profanity you can imagine is here, over and over.
I'm stuck wondering, as I think about these popular shows, Is this it? Are we really stuck in a world in which the most popular, highly acclaimed, and well-made stories have gratuitous violence, sex, and language all while providing no positive messages and no positive role models?
What kind of a culture devotes its money, talents, and time to create stories like this?
Now, my examples have obviously been cherry-picked. There are literally hundreds of different shows and movies right now, and they are not all like this. But at the same time, it's worth pondering that many of the most highly-acclaimed are exactly like these.
A good share of modern novels that have been either given, recommended, or chosen by various book clubs I participate in have language I'd rather not read, provide graphic details about things I'd rather not have in graphic detail, etc.
Once Upon a Time, I turned off shows and put down books that had graphic content because I felt like I was being entertained by horrible things, that the details were there to titillate and appeal to the worst of me. And over time, I've been rather desensitized to it.
A good share of modern novels that have been either given, recommended, or chosen by various book clubs I participate in have language I'd rather not read, provide graphic details about things I'd rather not have in graphic detail, etc.
Once Upon a Time, I turned off shows and put down books that had graphic content because I felt like I was being entertained by horrible things, that the details were there to titillate and appeal to the worst of me. And over time, I've been rather desensitized to it.
The problems with content in modern story-telling becomes most prominent to me, a 5th grade teacher, when trying to find appropriate books to recommend for my high readers. Think about it: let's say you have a 10-year-old who is reading at a 9th grade level. I can't blindly just recommend young adult novels written for 15-year olds. Have you read what kind of stuff is in many novels targeted for young adults?
But it's not just about 10-year-olds. What about teenagers that want stories that are good, thoughtful, meaningful, and intelligent but don't want the graphic violence, the language, and the in-your-face sex? What about adults that don't want it?
And don't tell me it can't be done. From Pride and Prejudice to Great Expectations to Heart of Darkness, it has been done. And even fantasy, which trends by its very nature to physical violence and warfare, has plenty examples of it being done. Whether it's Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain or Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea and Western Shore novels, there's plenty of excellent writing, thoughtful looks at tough moral questions and tough moral situations without throwing out the F-bomb 70 times per book.
And so, that's where I'm at.
Catch the Wind, written for my students. Written for the 10-year-olds in my classroom who want high-level literature. Written for them as they get older. Written for me, to be the kind of story I crave so much. Written for those who want a story that is the opposite of what Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones give us: stories WITH positive messages and role models, but WITHOUT the overwhelming language, sex, and violence.
I tried to create a story that is clean but deals with hard things. I tried to be honest about the awfulness of Elowyn's reign, to be honest about the misery inflicted by those who choose to do terrible things. I tried to be honest about what it's like to be stuck in a bad situation, about the frustration and hurt that comes. I tried to be honest about the difficulty with fighting back and standing up for what's right.
I tried to create an intelligent, meaningful, emotionally engaging story without the crap. I tried to depict a range of interesting characters.
How well have I done? Well, that is up to every reader to decide. But I certainly invite you to read the prologue, as well as a few very short stories to decide whether or not my writing resonates with you.
But it's not just about 10-year-olds. What about teenagers that want stories that are good, thoughtful, meaningful, and intelligent but don't want the graphic violence, the language, and the in-your-face sex? What about adults that don't want it?
And don't tell me it can't be done. From Pride and Prejudice to Great Expectations to Heart of Darkness, it has been done. And even fantasy, which trends by its very nature to physical violence and warfare, has plenty examples of it being done. Whether it's Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain or Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea and Western Shore novels, there's plenty of excellent writing, thoughtful looks at tough moral questions and tough moral situations without throwing out the F-bomb 70 times per book.
And so, that's where I'm at.
Catch the Wind, written for my students. Written for the 10-year-olds in my classroom who want high-level literature. Written for them as they get older. Written for me, to be the kind of story I crave so much. Written for those who want a story that is the opposite of what Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones give us: stories WITH positive messages and role models, but WITHOUT the overwhelming language, sex, and violence.
I tried to create a story that is clean but deals with hard things. I tried to be honest about the awfulness of Elowyn's reign, to be honest about the misery inflicted by those who choose to do terrible things. I tried to be honest about what it's like to be stuck in a bad situation, about the frustration and hurt that comes. I tried to be honest about the difficulty with fighting back and standing up for what's right.
I tried to create an intelligent, meaningful, emotionally engaging story without the crap. I tried to depict a range of interesting characters.
How well have I done? Well, that is up to every reader to decide. But I certainly invite you to read the prologue, as well as a few very short stories to decide whether or not my writing resonates with you.