this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2023
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[–] [email protected] 35 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Can't have kids entering adulthood with any ideas about changing or helping the world. Much better for business if they give up all those hopes and just get a job.

[–] AnUnusualRelic 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They'd better get a job, caring for a walrus isn't cheap.

[–] SureIsHandOutside 6 points 1 year ago

The smiles are priceless, but the wall repair bill for tusk marks is higher than you’d expect.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Even if they did have ideas, there's a good chance they'd still get pushed into a confined and dehumanizing existence.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Still better to try than not imo

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yeah, but I can kind of get why some fiction might want to frame adulthood more in the direction of tapering expectations with a "sordid lament over losing the parts of yourself you like" since that's totally realistic

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Which stories are being criticized here? I can't think of any examples of this kind of coming of age story.

[–] MrMcGasion 27 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I can't come up with examples from modern popular culture, but I do remember the C.S. Lewis novels in the Narnia series often ending that way, as though the battles in Narnia were somehow less real. But those stories are a bit niche at this point.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Aslan didn't allow the oldest girl into "heaven" with the other kids in the last book because she... checks notes... wore makeup and liked boys. C S Lewis got reeeal puritanical towards the end of that series.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's not a great representation, she didn't die in the train crash because she became distant from her family, so since she's still alive on earth she's obviously not going to "heaven".

There is a one off line about those being her interests which was a weird choice, but it's not like she went to wardrobe hell lol

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

No it mentions her interest in things Aslan disapproved of a few times or at least alludes to it a few times throughout. Frankly his attude to women and the girls is bloody awful at best.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Got any examples? Wouldn't be surprised, the Christianity themes are not subtle lol, but the line I'm thinking of that references makeup is really just a weird one-off line that he doesn't elaborate on.

But regardless, her story is left open ended because she's still alive. She wasn't denied access into big kitty heaven.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I can't find nd my copy of the books but did find this quote from C.S Lewis

“Peter gets back to Narnia in it. I am afraid Susan does not. Haven’t you noticed in the two you have read that she is rather fond of being too grownup? I am sorry to say that side of her got stronger and she forgot about Narnia.”

It's just such a narrow attitude to children growing up. I love how Philip Pullman covers the same subject by celebrating the change from child to adult (or young adult). C.S Lewis is seems angry that childhood ends and children might have the audacity to change.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Didn't they age into adults in Narnia and ruled there? Then they went home and it was only a few minutes and then they all died as kids at the end, so they didn't so much "lose their powers" as they just straight up died lol. Been a long time since I've read the books though.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Pretty clear that Digimon is one. Which links it to childhood and seems to have a sad/bittersweet ending multiple times. (though averted/retconned for 2 incarnations.)

Not entirely about lost powers but see the Growing Up Sucks trope (and the example subpages)

The concept of "childhood's end" will probably be clearly illustrated, with the now-grown-up character losing something that was fundamental to their happiness as a child.

The child may lose his guardians, Mons, or even his powers, if these all come with a time limit or are directly linked to his status as a child. For example, children are assumed to be wide-eyed, curious, innocent and trusting; adults are usually portrayed as pragmatic, cynical and set in their ways.

A recurring theme in Hayao Miyazaki's films

Sometimes it might be subtle, and sometimes the time limit is an open/common reminder such as Fairly Odd Parents (lose+forget fairies after turning 18, though it being a long-running show I don't know if they even actually ended on that note).

@elbarto777

[–] Smoogs 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Most magic stories about getting your powers before adulthood hits. Wednesday, Harry Potter, magic school, almost any magic series you search in both Netflix and prime, If you don’t start sensing it before you hit x age you’re not magical just ordinary. It really overplays on the crushing potential older people put on younger people too. This is pretty much all YA formula in books and what has been converted from YA books

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Locke & Key has the forgetting magic when becoming an adult trope.

[–] javasux 5 points 1 year ago

The Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place has all the kids competing to keep their magic powers when they enter adulthood

[–] cynar 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The web serial "Worm" (Parahumans) is an interesting take on this. Powers tend to show up around teens, but stay forever. A lot of hero teams have a "youth" team as well. They handle low stakes stuff, to get some practice in, while the adult teams take the bigger risks.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do the oldest parahumans take the biggest risks? Because that would be ideal.

The job of old people is to clear the way for the young! It's how humanity is supposed to move forward.

I find it interesting that this is the opposite of how finance works: When you're young you're supposed to take the most risks while the old are supposed to play it safe.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Yes, the young parahumans (wards) work in big groups and deal with smaller crime. Usually a ward will never encounter or will be told to let someone else handle a really really powerful or brutal villain but sometimes they don't have a choice like in the case of sh9

There also another exception; when fighting endbringers ever hero and villain is allowed to fight

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

God I fucking love worm, so glad to see people talking about it

[–] RememberTheApollo_ 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

…or worse yet becoming evil in some way because you grew up.

[–] Smoogs 5 points 1 year ago

Or worthless to everyone

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

When I was a kid I always told myself I'll never become like most of the dumb adults around me.
I'm 26 now and I think I'm on the right path.

[–] cynar 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] NielsBohron 6 points 1 year ago

Always relevant.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 1 year ago

Way to brag about still living at home with your parents. Living the good life at someone else's expense 👍

I'm kidding, of course. I bet you still watch animated shows, read comics, and play video games!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (4 children)

'Lockwood & Co." on Netflix is a good example of this idea. Only a small number of teens can fight the baddies.

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' assumes that the Slayer won't make it past 25...

Can't think of that many more.

I was thinking about this a while ago. Back in the day, there were a lot of middle-aged superheroes. Dr. Strange, Col. Nick Fury, Reed Richards, Professor X, and The Chief of the Doom Patrol were all over 40.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Batman is often straight up old.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I can do two hours on the Caped Crusader and still have material left over...

The Batman animated version is supposed to be him in Year One, about 25 years old. In Batman Beyond he's supposed to be over 70. According to the last DC comic's fact sheet, they are currently portraying him as having been active for about 15 years.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've actually been watching Batman Beyond lately. I'm about 8 episodes in.

Though I was more thinking the grey-haired Batmen in the live action movies.

[–] jettrscga 4 points 1 year ago

Locke and Key had the premise that only kids could remember magic.

Kids Next Door is all about kids good, adults evil.

[–] Tar_alcaran 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Watcher Council all but treats slayers as disposable assets, until that turns out to be a bad idea that is.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

...and absolutely nothing pervy about a bunch of old men secretly watching nubile teenage girls.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Lockwood and Co has a show now??? Is it true to the books?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Never read the books. I liked the show, and look forward to the next season.

If you like English fantasy novels, look up Tanith Lee. 'Night's Master' is a good place to start.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

The books were solid when I was in 7th grade. No idea how they transfer to adulthood

[–] Smoogs 5 points 1 year ago

YA novels are all this.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

They're in a good mood.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I was looking for the source, but from what I see on this Reddit post, this is OC, right?

[–] SureIsHandOutside 4 points 1 year ago

That is correct. Thanks for asking!