I don’t think my experience was unique, but I do wonder if it’s becoming a thing of the past. Bear with me; it’ll make sense in a moment.
I grew up during the rise of manga like Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, and I deeply identified with the heroes and their superpowers. I kid you not, at one point I was “training” to raise my energy (chi) just to shoot beams out of my hands. The Kamehameha wave…
I truly wish awakening one’s inner power were actually that literal.
In good unsexy reality , the process of discovering and honing your skills is much messier, boring and rarely linear. You train, you realise you have no talent in an area. You try another others until you find one that you connect with, maybe you improve, and you gain momentum, only to lose it and suddenly feel as though you’re starting again from the very bottom.
By the time you read this, I’m back to square one in many areas of my life. But more on that another time.
Lately, I’ve been asking myself if the new generation of cartoons possesses narratives and character arcs strong enough to accompany children in their development, instilling in them aspirations, inspiration, or even knowledge.
I’m reminded of The Mysterious Cities of Gold, which taught me about Inca civilisation, or Once Upon a Time… Life, which made me marvel at the human body.
I sincerely hope “brain rot” isn’t the future of entertainment. Otherwise, I fear not only for what will soon pass as “good” content, but also for what I can only call the dumbification of society.
Then again, perhaps I’m simply repeating a pattern common to every generation: romanticising my own era, comparing it to the next, and invariably finding the new one lacking.
But am I? What do you think? Am I just being nostalgic?
Anyway. I took this prompt a really different direction. I wonder what other bloggers will say on this Wednesdays blogging challenge.
Here’s where to find their thoughts:
Agape.
Rudiano.
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