Is American media attracted to happy endings because they…
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Is American media attracted to happy endings because they have never truly been defeated in war, as opposed to the remainder of the world who portray more black-and-white, somber, and nihilistic endings in their media?
This expands beyond just a literature obviously but after reading 100 years in solitude, I was pondering this question. Often in so much American media, including movies, literature, and TV shows there is a rather optimistic and hopeful ending to the stories. This can be the case, despite a semi bittersweet resolution with a main character dying. There always seems to be a glimmer of hope.
I have found that in other media, particularly Asian and central and South American, endings are a lot more ambiguous and often very dark. For example, I have witnessed this in many Chinese and Indian film and recently in 100 years of solitude (SPOILERS) the ending is literally so depressing, but I found it very poetic and thought-provoking. Often these endings are far more interesting and nuanced to me, and I am loved thinking about them for far longer than a piece of western media with a generic happy ending.
My theory is does this have any correlation to America not losing any major wars? For most of American history they have come out as the Victor, we’re at the very worst kind of withdrew in a stalemate. They have not been conquered and crushed like the other poor nations in the world often at the hands of America or European powers. Meanwhile Asia, the Middle East and central and South America, among other older cultures and regions, have cumulatively suffered a lot more loss and bloodshed in more numerous conflicts therefore they have a more nuanced less black and white view of the world which color their dark storytelling.
Not sure if I’m just blowing smoke out of my ass or if any of this makes any sense. Curious to hear your thoughts.
#entertainment
source
This expands beyond just a literature obviously but after reading 100 years in solitude, I was pondering this question. Often in so much American media, including movies, literature, and TV shows there is a rather optimistic and hopeful ending to the stories. This can be the case, despite a semi bittersweet resolution with a main character dying. There always seems to be a glimmer of hope.
I have found that in other media, particularly Asian and central and South American, endings are a lot more ambiguous and often very dark. For example, I have witnessed this in many Chinese and Indian film and recently in 100 years of solitude (SPOILERS) the ending is literally so depressing, but I found it very poetic and thought-provoking. Often these endings are far more interesting and nuanced to me, and I am loved thinking about them for far longer than a piece of western media with a generic happy ending.
My theory is does this have any correlation to America not losing any major wars? For most of American history they have come out as the Victor, we’re at the very worst kind of withdrew in a stalemate. They have not been conquered and crushed like the other poor nations in the world often at the hands of America or European powers. Meanwhile Asia, the Middle East and central and South America, among other older cultures and regions, have cumulatively suffered a lot more loss and bloodshed in more numerous conflicts therefore they have a more nuanced less black and white view of the world which color their dark storytelling.
Not sure if I’m just blowing smoke out of my ass or if any of this makes any sense. Curious to hear your thoughts.
#entertainment
source
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