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The One Who Is Right
May. 14th, 2015 06:32 pmThis is something I've wondered about for quite a while.
One very common figure in USAn popular culture is the One Who Is Right, when nearly everyone else is wrong. The Scientist Who Knows: Jor-El, warning Krypton of impending doom, to no avail. The Experienced One: Ellen Ripley, warning against returning to the Alien world. The Moral Strongman: Will Kane, ready to stand alone against the Miller gang. Often - at least in drama - the One Who Is Right remains alone, pulling out some semblance of victory single-handed. Sometimes - more often in comedy - the One manages to persuade the masses at the last instant, as in Miracle on 34th Street or Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.
Individualism has long been a key ideal, in the USA, and I think that, by and large, it's a good thing. But it also provides psychological support for those whose views are rejected because they are wrong, or foolish, or dangerous. ("They laugh at me, just as they laughed at Columbus!" "They also laughed at Mortimer Snerd, you know.")
I don't know enough about popular culture in other countries. Is this kind of figure as prevalent elsewhere?
One very common figure in USAn popular culture is the One Who Is Right, when nearly everyone else is wrong. The Scientist Who Knows: Jor-El, warning Krypton of impending doom, to no avail. The Experienced One: Ellen Ripley, warning against returning to the Alien world. The Moral Strongman: Will Kane, ready to stand alone against the Miller gang. Often - at least in drama - the One Who Is Right remains alone, pulling out some semblance of victory single-handed. Sometimes - more often in comedy - the One manages to persuade the masses at the last instant, as in Miracle on 34th Street or Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.
Individualism has long been a key ideal, in the USA, and I think that, by and large, it's a good thing. But it also provides psychological support for those whose views are rejected because they are wrong, or foolish, or dangerous. ("They laugh at me, just as they laughed at Columbus!" "They also laughed at Mortimer Snerd, you know.")
I don't know enough about popular culture in other countries. Is this kind of figure as prevalent elsewhere?
