The Neverending Story original novel had a concept in it where the Fantasticans who fell into the Nothing weren't killed, but corrupted from Stories into Lies. That one stuck with me.
…poor Scar. He doesn’t deny that he used to be bad. He tries so hard to redeem himself. And now, his daughter is telling him he’s a good person. His daughter who doesn’t know she’s his daughter…
….and who he can never claim as his daughter, less she´ll be tarred with his brush.
seriously, he has such a heart of gold, it makes you wonder how he could ever be the bad guy – but there are many ways to manipulate someone. like, if you´re raised to believe (into) something, coming to the realisation that its *wrong* is hard + takes time
A lifetime of entitlement and power. Only when he had his sense of omnipotence taken from him was he able to see his actions for what they were. We are seeing it a lot these day people who have done wrong in a cloud of arrogance and entitlement brought to there knees when they have to face judgement of there peers and victims. A lot of abusers don’t see themselves that way and don’t see the harm they did as wrong or if they do see the act as wrong its justifiable in there minds for some reason at the time. He was an Echo, an elite member of his society and born to a clan taught that there power and strength makes then righteous. Its of little surprise that he abused his power and the fact he is remorseful is as much to do with seeing the realities of his clans actions as whole as it is to do with his own personal crimes. That’s my take on it anyway.
I’m reminded of the episode of the Twilight Zone, “it’s a good life” that features a little boy who’s a complete brat, not because he’s emotionally different than other kids, but because he has nearly omnipotent powers and responds to any criticisms by wreaking supernatural havoc.
A story works to inform and strengthen the audience, a lie is only meant to distract from the truth.
The lesson here Selkie, is that power is a drug. If you don’t follow the instructions and over indulge, it’ll consume and corrupt you. Know your limits, and know when to say no.
In “To Boldly Flee,” Doug Walker said, “Bad art is a distraction; great art changes people.” It’s been my creative motto ever since I heard it.
Combine that maxim with your definition, and bad art (e.g. popcorn flicks, pulp novels, vapid music) could be considered a form of a lie — unable to edify, meant merely to keep your brain occupied for a while until the next part of your life starts. A distraction from what truly matters.
The good stories, the best stories, they use untrue things to talk about true things. And sometimes this “veil” is enough to reach the audience in ways that talking never could. I think Star Trek’s “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” expresses the inherent irrationality of racism better than any speech about how we’re all the same on the inside.
And when your life’s a struggle and you feel like there’s no one you can turn to, you could watch The Lord of the Rings, and fill your soul with powerful imagery to strengthen you for the task ahead. Whether that’s the wistful exchange between Frodo and Gandalf:
“I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.”
“So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
…or Samwise Gamgee’s battlecry:
“I can’t carry it for you — but I CAN CARRY YOU!”
THAT is the power of Story. And why we need Bards even more in this day and age.
If I wasn’t convinced that Scar is taking the hard path of redemption, I’m convinced now. He’s even trying to get her to figure out the truth by herself without dumping everything on her and expecting her to swallow it whole.
I expect there will be some nuance to him. Like maybe maybe he was trying to brainwash people he thought of as evil to be less evil or something? Or keeping them on his “farm” for what he thought was their own good.
Dammi-tallll, what is it with the dang onions, sitting at my diningroom table, Bam! All of a sudden: Onions! I’d blame the house elves, but we don’t have any. Unless it’s failure of the rubber ring-seals on my eyes leaking again?…
To have a daughter and know she will never smile and say “I love you, Daddy” to you?
Gonna buy a house on the river, so know one will ask about all the water.
Well, looks like Mr. Scar has lived to Roux the day already. We don’t Know that he IS Selkie’s Dad, we just suspect that it is the way it will go? Lies are the counterfeit of truth.
“Truth at court was treated as if it were a precious commodity. It was hoarded, coveted, bartered for. Certainly this analogy applied to lies; his courtiers accepted his lies as currency of the realm. He handed them lies in large denominations, and they returned him his change in small ones.”
…
“Such was the worth of the king’s currency, and Slately spent his lies well.”
Scar is quickly becoming one of my FAVORITE characters. It’s like watching Fivel again, always just missing his family like “THEY’RE RIGHT THERE, LOOK AT THEM! HUG THEM, JUST GET TOGETHER AAAAAHAH”
Um, I don’t either. Sarnothi psychology isn’t a strong point. Since what Selkie has been told is a story, Scar must be saying there’s some truth in it, which is awful sad. But no-one’s actually lied about it?
I wonder, could Scar be a scapegoat? Maybe those things happened, but were done by or to someone else… ah well, we don’t know the full story, let alone the true story.
Ballet is another of my blind spots. Closed book to me, honestly.
Maybe he means that while the story isn’t accurate (ie: “not true,” it contains a bit of truth. Like you said further up (paraphrased): maybe Scar was “the Farmer” for what he considered noble/worthy reasons. So yes, he did these things but it wasn’t because he’s a monster. And he’s done his best to make amends for it ever since he learned he was wrong.
Asbestos I can tell, it is the Victorian equivalent of a seated aerobic exercise for the aristocracy. Lewd enough to get the blood really pumping, cultured enough to be socially acceptable to high society? Not sure what the dickens it is for, but it’s pretty, and my gosh it is hard to do well.
…no, I didn’t need my heart today.
This is fine.
It’s fine.
Everything’s fine.
…poor Scar. He doesn’t deny that he used to be bad. He tries so hard to redeem himself. And now, his daughter is telling him he’s a good person. His daughter who doesn’t know she’s his daughter…
….and who he can never claim as his daughter, less she´ll be tarred with his brush.
seriously, he has such a heart of gold, it makes you wonder how he could ever be the bad guy – but there are many ways to manipulate someone. like, if you´re raised to believe (into) something, coming to the realisation that its *wrong* is hard + takes time
A lifetime of entitlement and power. Only when he had his sense of omnipotence taken from him was he able to see his actions for what they were. We are seeing it a lot these day people who have done wrong in a cloud of arrogance and entitlement brought to there knees when they have to face judgement of there peers and victims. A lot of abusers don’t see themselves that way and don’t see the harm they did as wrong or if they do see the act as wrong its justifiable in there minds for some reason at the time. He was an Echo, an elite member of his society and born to a clan taught that there power and strength makes then righteous. Its of little surprise that he abused his power and the fact he is remorseful is as much to do with seeing the realities of his clans actions as whole as it is to do with his own personal crimes. That’s my take on it anyway.
I’m reminded of the episode of the Twilight Zone, “it’s a good life” that features a little boy who’s a complete brat, not because he’s emotionally different than other kids, but because he has nearly omnipotent powers and responds to any criticisms by wreaking supernatural havoc.
A story works to inform and strengthen the audience, a lie is only meant to distract from the truth.
The lesson here Selkie, is that power is a drug. If you don’t follow the instructions and over indulge, it’ll consume and corrupt you. Know your limits, and know when to say no.
In “To Boldly Flee,” Doug Walker said, “Bad art is a distraction; great art changes people.” It’s been my creative motto ever since I heard it.
Combine that maxim with your definition, and bad art (e.g. popcorn flicks, pulp novels, vapid music) could be considered a form of a lie — unable to edify, meant merely to keep your brain occupied for a while until the next part of your life starts. A distraction from what truly matters.
The good stories, the best stories, they use untrue things to talk about true things. And sometimes this “veil” is enough to reach the audience in ways that talking never could. I think Star Trek’s “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” expresses the inherent irrationality of racism better than any speech about how we’re all the same on the inside.
And when your life’s a struggle and you feel like there’s no one you can turn to, you could watch The Lord of the Rings, and fill your soul with powerful imagery to strengthen you for the task ahead. Whether that’s the wistful exchange between Frodo and Gandalf:
“I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.”
“So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
…or Samwise Gamgee’s battlecry:
“I can’t carry it for you — but I CAN CARRY YOU!”
THAT is the power of Story. And why we need Bards even more in this day and age.
If I wasn’t convinced that Scar is taking the hard path of redemption, I’m convinced now. He’s even trying to get her to figure out the truth by herself without dumping everything on her and expecting her to swallow it whole.
Respect+
I expect there will be some nuance to him. Like maybe maybe he was trying to brainwash people he thought of as evil to be less evil or something? Or keeping them on his “farm” for what he thought was their own good.
“Daughter of the Jin’Sorai.” Oh, Scar. 🙁
Was that for her benefit or as a reminder to you of what you can never tell her?
Who is peeling all these onions??
Dammi-tallll, what is it with the dang onions, sitting at my diningroom table, Bam! All of a sudden: Onions! I’d blame the house elves, but we don’t have any. Unless it’s failure of the rubber ring-seals on my eyes leaking again?…
To have a daughter and know she will never smile and say “I love you, Daddy” to you?
Gonna buy a house on the river, so know one will ask about all the water.
Oops, onions are on me. Forgive me, I forgot to turn on the fan while preparing my roux.
It’s a compliment, really. A good story well told. 🙂
Well, looks like Mr. Scar has lived to Roux the day already. We don’t Know that he IS Selkie’s Dad, we just suspect that it is the way it will go? Lies are the counterfeit of truth.
I’m reminded of a line from Erfworld:
“Truth at court was treated as if it were a precious commodity. It was hoarded, coveted, bartered for. Certainly this analogy applied to lies; his courtiers accepted his lies as currency of the realm. He handed them lies in large denominations, and they returned him his change in small ones.”
…
“Such was the worth of the king’s currency, and Slately spent his lies well.”
Scar is quickly becoming one of my FAVORITE characters. It’s like watching Fivel again, always just missing his family like “THEY’RE RIGHT THERE, LOOK AT THEM! HUG THEM, JUST GET TOGETHER AAAAAHAH”
I don’t get it, what’s he’s trying to say with the “story and a lie” line?
Um, I don’t either. Sarnothi psychology isn’t a strong point. Since what Selkie has been told is a story, Scar must be saying there’s some truth in it, which is awful sad. But no-one’s actually lied about it?
I wonder, could Scar be a scapegoat? Maybe those things happened, but were done by or to someone else… ah well, we don’t know the full story, let alone the true story.
Ballet is another of my blind spots. Closed book to me, honestly.
Maybe he means that while the story isn’t accurate (ie: “not true,” it contains a bit of truth. Like you said further up (paraphrased): maybe Scar was “the Farmer” for what he considered noble/worthy reasons. So yes, he did these things but it wasn’t because he’s a monster. And he’s done his best to make amends for it ever since he learned he was wrong.
It’s his response to Selkie disbelieving the stories and describing them as crap… it’s his way of saying that the stories aren’t entirely false.
Thanks chaps, though none of this helps me with the ballet…
Asbestos I can tell, it is the Victorian equivalent of a seated aerobic exercise for the aristocracy. Lewd enough to get the blood really pumping, cultured enough to be socially acceptable to high society? Not sure what the dickens it is for, but it’s pretty, and my gosh it is hard to do well.