Bit of a downer, I know. But it highlights the struggles that various crew experience and reminds you that, even though it’s sci-fi, it’s not a fairy-tale. Just ask Jadzia.
For context: the ensign initially speaking comes from a low-gravity environment and requires an exo-suit and mobility chair to get around. Bashir devises a treatment that would allow her to function without them. However, the trade-off is that she could no longer visit her homeworld for any extended period of time or make use of low-G assistance.
Also, Hans Christian Andersen could give the Brothers Grimm a run for their money on fucked up stories “for children.”
The original story was written to convince children to settle for the life they have, rather than risk their livelihood searching for something different. The Disney version was modified to fit a more stereotypical “American Dream” lesson that believes making your own life can be rewarding.
The same story, but with differing endings for differing lessons following the differing mindsets of differing places at differing times. It’s fun to think about how much a children’s story can be changed to reflect the lesson its teller means to teach.
100%. But then, we’re also dealing with the money printing power of Disney.
I can appreciate making an old fable more palatable for a general audience, but they completely sidestepped the base message. As had been done with Snow White, Rapunzel, etc. Let’s get back to formula: hard lessons to harden a generation about to face that and more.
Hmm, I’m not sure I agree with that.
By teaching kids that pushing against the “natural order” of the world gets you killed, and that you should just stay in your preassigned life designation, you’re not hardening them, you’re teaching them that rising up and fighting back is useless, and will only get you killed. The original story was meant to keep kids in line, and I think we’ve got enough propaganda keeping people in line at the moment.
Maybe the Disney version only made the ending nicer to be more palatable to a modern audience, but the lesson that a better life can be attained by persevering through challenges is a sentiment that I can definitely support instilling in the younger generation.
The lesson from Rapunzel is “obey the lady who locked you up against your will, for your own good”. Not the best lesson, I think.
Not saying I agree with the lessons, just don’t sugarcoat the gritty details laid out by the authors. Unless it’s Bret Easton Ellis’ “American Psyco,” at which point we’re better off without.