Paradigm Shifts (and Blog Shifts Too)

Well, it's becoming clear: the big economc downturn we have been experiencing has not gone away and there seems to be every expectation that it won't go away soon. With it, we are looking at a major reassessment of societal prospects or, as Hollywood has long been fond of saying - a paradigm shift.

We aren't just talking economic survival. This is more an attitudinal and identity change. The Great Depression of the 1930s marked its survivors for life. This will too, whatever its final name will be. It's far too early to tell how all this will work out but we are far enough along for me to make a few comments...

First, what's most striking to me about this downturn is what isn't there, namely some clear characterization or narrative from the creative community. The Great Depression spawned countless stories, paintings, photo essays, movies, plays and the like and numerous stereotypes and archetypes sprung up: the Wall Street trader turned apple vendor, the Okie family migrating to California, the corrupt power broker and the Capraesque straight shooter, the orphan gamine, the weary single mother - these and many other types found their permanent place in American culture.

Where are today's archetypes? Where indeed are the narratives from our current disaster? It's been two years and counting and not much cohesive storytelling to show for it.

Come to think of it, where's the great novel - or film - that takes up the horror of September 11, 2001? Is ANY major aspect of modern life showing up in modern fiction? I don't see it. I can't think of a single major work that even attempts, let alone succeeds, in giving voice and vision to our times (note: the few possible exceptions are so new their impact yet be assessed). Dickens took on his world, Tolstoy took on his, so did Dostoievsky. Scott Fitzgerald certainly did and Hemingway did. Filmmakers did as well - Coppola and Stone, Kurosawa, Kazan and many others. But lately? You can't count George Clooney's several pictures- however smart and timely, they just don't have major societal impact. Same with the art house films that you finally get around to seeing on Netflix. No resonance, however thought provoking.

So what's going on? Paradigm shift. We are not - as a society - in agreement of what is happening, who we are and where we are going. And the storytellers and creators - always the early warning system of societal change - have not heard the Next Call. It's a muddle still and may well be for some time to come.

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Some clarity is coming to my muddle: my company Coral Gate Media LLC is experiencing a lot of activity (TBAs soon). There's a clear need to separate out this professional activity from my personal thoughts and essays. Consequently, a new Coral Gate Media Blog will make its debut within the month. Its focus will be news about the company, links to other professional media connections and the like. This blog will remain as my personal portal and sounding board. Comments are always welcome.