So there's this familiar hero's journey. That's the hero that basically wins because he is just so honest, earnest, believing in his cause and willing to fight for it, that he convinces those around him.
He brings hope back to the faltering rebellion. He wins friends and allies who support him. Sure, he is willing to take risks, he works hard, and he can fight, too, when the need comes (and surprisingly well) but really it is this power of personality that does the trick. It is like everyone else read the script and realizes he's the hero of the story.
That's what is underlying those White Savior narratives. The white part may be new, and problematic, but that goodness thing goes back way past Dick Wittington into Jason, Theseus, and Gilgamesh. (Of course they had, depending on the culture involved, the advantage of being really tough or really, really clever as a useful selling point. Yes, let's throw in with the guy who keeps winning.)
So I was pushing hard to get my word count last night and my playlist rolled through to the soundtrack of Barbarella.
Okay, it didn't hit me until the extended flight sequence; Pygar takes wing, and carries Barbarella into battle. Which she wins. And her good eye and her calmness under fire is a big part of it, but the whole thing wouldn't have happened if she hadn't brought Pygar's confidence back to him.
Because she believes in him. Take the sex out of it, and it is just like the typical male hero with their engaging grin and their, "This time we can win" speech.
No comments:
Post a Comment