If you study the publishing industry you can identify fascinating trends that reflect wider societal concerns. Romance novelists are important to watch. They’re astute analysts and forecasters of trends. Their heroes are an expression and response to readers’ hopes and fears.
Alien heroes stand outside (human) society, unconstrained by our social norms.
Paranormal heroes (werewolves, wizards, vampires) are a less extreme version of aliens. The paranormals challenge society and its systems (legal, political, and social).
Farmers, cowboys, and doctors sustain and heal society. Theirs is a life of sacrifice, routine, and endurance.
Mafia (anti) heroes navigate the corruption in the system. They aren’t outside society, but they play by different rules.
Police and military heroes defend society.
Hockey players and other sportstars and celebrity heroes express escaping ordinary life while staying true to it.
I suspect there’ll be a new type of savior hero soon, one who redeems society by enforcing a moral code. I’m really curious what form this hero will take. Religious monk? Cult leader? Political activist? What’s your guess?
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5 responses to “Heroic Revelations”
That’s a cool idea! I wonder if it will be something like a rebel alliance leader. We have a taste of that in the Star Wars Disney+ series Andor, where we get to see an average guy who is just trying to survive in a corrupt system step into the heroes journey, accepting the need for a rebellion and working his way into a fundamental leader within it.
A rebel would be awesome! LOL a rebel with a cause 🙂 and given Star Wars has already seen the potential there… oh so cool ::very uncool squeal:: we should get more of these stories!
I so agree. I feel like the world needs to be inspired by these kinds of heroes right now. I’m trying to think of other things that fit the bill, and I’m coming up blank. I feel like it can’t just be an antihero type, but rather someone who steps into that role because the world needs it, and becomes a leader of others to bring about change. Historically, I guess it would be your William Wallace type heroes.
You just sparked an idea! Do you think we’ll see people importing heroes from the past, like William Wallace? Time travel.
I have this frustrating feeling that there are obvious heroes lurking and I just can’t bring them into focus. (Which is probably a good thing because I have more than enough on my plate with Caldryn)
I feel the same, like that there are people I should be able to think of (either in real life or stories) that fit this bill, but I can’t.
Time travel could be cool, to remind us of heroes of our past and inspire us. But I’d personally rather see new ones, so we don’t relegate these rebel heroes to distant history, but instead imagine heroes now. Though you could do something cool like King Arthur – the once and future king, returning to save us from ourselves.
But yes, please don’t get distracted from Caldryn, book 1 was awesome and I’m chomping at the bit for more! 🙂