I'm also not as well versed.* I am a commoner with most Fandom
and, indeed, most things.** I am a taster, skimming the surface
of things, diving in as far as I go, but always tethered to a
rock on the surface and I never fully cut the rope to try and
swim* in the depths. [even Doctor Who, my companion since I was
8 years old, Dad, Uncle, Grandpa, and now Brother and Nephew and
always friend - I always limited myself from the fullness of
fandom with any of it] So in short, my perspective is a shallow
one. I believe that, for the very young (and the young of mind),
there will always be a need for some sort of Hero's Journey
mythology for at least some point in development.* At this
period of time, I believe children could begin to leave it
around age 4 and shouldn't be overly encouraged beyond that.
Once a child's social life begins away from home, Kindergarten
and 1st Grade, the simple model begins to lessen in importance
and more complicated models are required... as life begins to
get more complicated.* I see that reflected when I would watch
TV with my nephew and he was 6 and 7; the epic hero who ended up
being the villain, evil-is-hysterically-funny trope became more
and more interesting to him. And now, by age 9, he's fully
versed in far more complicated presentations of reality, just as
full of subterfuge, don't-know-who-to-believe stories... even
very balanced tales where there is no villain or hero,
characters equally likeable and unlikeable, pleasant and
unpleasant. One of his favorite tropes since he was 7 has been
the misunderstood villain; at first portrayed as horrible but
then chinks in the armor of the hero appear and without the hero
going full-tilt into "Oh wow he was really the evil one all
along"" trop - nevertheless, the villain loses his flat identity
entirely and becomes entirely likeable, while still remaining
just as wicked and might even warrant destruction... yet with a
slight bit of sadness at the end. [the hero turns out evil and
evil turns out good trope, I think is the stage one gets just
after the campbell style and before the nuances] All that being
said, as a lover of but merely a taster-of Star Wars in movie
form (never delving into the books, or the games) - I still see
all that follows the 1st movie as variations on a theme.* 2nd
triology is the flip of the 1st trilogy and I expect 7 8 9 to
incorporate elements of both to provide a more balanced
perspective of Good and Evil, now that we have seen both sides,
as it were... where Evil isn't entirely Evil yet Good isn't
entirely Good. I'm not knocking it at all; the 4 year old in me
still loves the Kernel story best, even knowing that is the most
fable-like of the bunch.* It doesn't take away from my
appreciation of the complexities that follow; the kid, teen and
adult in my appreciate all of those things for what they are as
well. And part of me will always envy those who dive completely
in, for that is something I never do.* I also count on you and
friends who swim deeply within the nuances and subcultures of
various genres to educate people like me who are standing on the
surface... I suspect I act as a "Hey what's down there?" guy;
vastly simplifying complicated things, perhaps to the point of
foolishness.* Wow, maybe I am a politician at heart.* Shoot me
please if that's the case! [wait don't; make it one of those
painless deaths that takes a whole bunch of decades]
