Downward spiral
Dare to hope…
..Completely lacking in context, as I haven’t been able to place, or even verify, the quote:
How much science fiction is being published now that’s set in worlds that are better than ours? Not that have bigger shopping malls or faster space ships, but where the characters are morally superior, where the society works better, is more just? Not many. It becomes difficult to do it, and that’s a feedback relationship with what’s happening in the culture, with science fiction being the minor note. People don’t credit it anymore! Not just better gizmos and more virtual reality gear, but better societies. People don’t believe the future will be a better place. And that is very scary.
‘Providing hope is something science fiction should be doing. It sounds arrogant to say it, but if we don’t do it, who the hell will? One of the social functions of science fiction is to be visionary, and when science fiction isn’t being visionary, it hurts the culture’s visionary sense. And when the culture isn’t receptive, neither is science fiction. It’s a downward spiral.
– Norman Spinrad, “Why Most Science Fiction Sucks”
(via: Posthuman Blues, Future Hi)
| Fair warning given: sweeping generalization of the day follows; don’t read below if you’re averse to such things, or to the hubris of criticizing humanity as a whole. |
In a nutshell -and in my completely biased opinion, at the moment of submitting this post etc.- this is what’s essentially wrong with the human condition today. Spinrad’s observation can be said to apply equally well to journalism, blogging, the arts, the political process and mostly every field of creative human endeavor (*): it at least seems as if they’re all failing to provide adequate reasons why humanity should carry on with it’s existence, in quantities or qualities that can make a difference. And, frankly, if we’re unable or unwilling to care worth a damn’, to provide and accept hope, how are we then worthy of a better future anyway?
See, that’s the thing about love. When you love someone, I mean really love someone, it’s unconditional. You can’t ever expect anything back. You give because that’s what you have to do. And you don’t expect to hear somebody say thanks. But a part of you needs to hear the other person say thanks. And when that part comes out, you feel like a fraud, like you’re being selfish.[..]
The more you love, the more you give; the more you give, the more you need; and the more you need, the more you hate yourself for needing.
– Lazarus to David Grey, Midnight Nation #12
To those that persevere and keep hope alive, despite it all: respect and,
Midnight Nation #12 (J. Michael Straczynski, Gary Frank), ©2002 JMS & Top Cow Productions
(* save software engineering, perhaps; one of the few that seem to thrive at a time of global intellectual and spititual disillusionment. But give it time to mature into a weary field like the rest; or, maybe, give them a run for their money!)
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