This was so interesting to read, and also challenging for me (in a good way), as someone who has found myself, quite devastatingly, without real community even though we recently moved back to my home city. I agree that individuals should always feel free to pursue ideas/goals/opportunities beyond their immediate context... but I also think that, when this becomes the norm, it starts to shape us in certain ways and may make us less able/willing to see the (legitimate) claims made on us by the more dependent - particularly the elderly. I live in South Africa, where many educated and upwardly mobile people move to bigger cities or emigrate, leaving their parents behind. I can't tell you the number of times I've been out in public with my toddler and had an elderly stranger tell me, unprompted, about their grandchild who is in Australia/ Canada/ Europe and who they never get to see - it's heartbreaking.
I keep wondering if maybe there's a "happy medium", something like what Lane Scott is doing by building culture in a home and community, while still encouraging exploration... but in my experience, that middle ground doesn't last long - especially if economic conditions are difficult - and you inevitably get a growing class of "Anywheres".
Just my rambling thoughts - thank you for a thought provoking essay!
Thanks for that. I agree, and maybe can explore this more in future pieces. Note, I don’t actually conclude in the essay that George Bailey did the wrong thing, only that the point of the movie isn’t necessarily that “small town life is awesome and we must do everything possible to save it.” Should we do… anything to save it? I leave that somewhat open.
I think ideally communities should be somewhat porous, allowing outlets for those who don’t fully fit and yet have some reason to stay. And as we get more individualized and rarified maybe that’s… most of us? In our varying ways? Or maybe not, I’ll leave that open. But especially as it becomes more possible to work remotely etc, it doesn’t always have to be all or nothing. Of course Berry mostly hates all the stuff that enables working from home.
Sometimes the same technology that alienates us opens new paths to not-smothering forms of community. It’s certainly complicated.
I like your analysis. I've always thought the movie’s popularity is rather strange, or at least a testament to the incredible power of the happy ending, however incongruous. To Capra’s credit, he makes the resolution narratively credible (if of course really unlikely). Still, having come to it as an adult, I am always amazed at how willing people are to sit through like 125 minutes of grinding immiseration for the five-minute payoff at the end. Because his life is legitimately miserable—he’s on that bridge for a reason—and the Potterville “Christmas Carol” is even worse! Still, I guess we can thank whoever forgot to put the copyright notice on it for making such a weird, interesting, dark movie an unlikely feel-good holiday classic…
This was so interesting to read, and also challenging for me (in a good way), as someone who has found myself, quite devastatingly, without real community even though we recently moved back to my home city. I agree that individuals should always feel free to pursue ideas/goals/opportunities beyond their immediate context... but I also think that, when this becomes the norm, it starts to shape us in certain ways and may make us less able/willing to see the (legitimate) claims made on us by the more dependent - particularly the elderly. I live in South Africa, where many educated and upwardly mobile people move to bigger cities or emigrate, leaving their parents behind. I can't tell you the number of times I've been out in public with my toddler and had an elderly stranger tell me, unprompted, about their grandchild who is in Australia/ Canada/ Europe and who they never get to see - it's heartbreaking.
I keep wondering if maybe there's a "happy medium", something like what Lane Scott is doing by building culture in a home and community, while still encouraging exploration... but in my experience, that middle ground doesn't last long - especially if economic conditions are difficult - and you inevitably get a growing class of "Anywheres".
Just my rambling thoughts - thank you for a thought provoking essay!
Thanks for that. I agree, and maybe can explore this more in future pieces. Note, I don’t actually conclude in the essay that George Bailey did the wrong thing, only that the point of the movie isn’t necessarily that “small town life is awesome and we must do everything possible to save it.” Should we do… anything to save it? I leave that somewhat open.
I think ideally communities should be somewhat porous, allowing outlets for those who don’t fully fit and yet have some reason to stay. And as we get more individualized and rarified maybe that’s… most of us? In our varying ways? Or maybe not, I’ll leave that open. But especially as it becomes more possible to work remotely etc, it doesn’t always have to be all or nothing. Of course Berry mostly hates all the stuff that enables working from home.
Sometimes the same technology that alienates us opens new paths to not-smothering forms of community. It’s certainly complicated.
What wonderful writing! Fascinating and perceptive. A joy to read.
if you ever have time, I'd be interested in your take on my "Twelve Days of Christmas" From the perspective of what it has to say about community. :)
https://lancelotfinn.substack.com/p/the-twelve-days-of-christmas
I like your analysis. I've always thought the movie’s popularity is rather strange, or at least a testament to the incredible power of the happy ending, however incongruous. To Capra’s credit, he makes the resolution narratively credible (if of course really unlikely). Still, having come to it as an adult, I am always amazed at how willing people are to sit through like 125 minutes of grinding immiseration for the five-minute payoff at the end. Because his life is legitimately miserable—he’s on that bridge for a reason—and the Potterville “Christmas Carol” is even worse! Still, I guess we can thank whoever forgot to put the copyright notice on it for making such a weird, interesting, dark movie an unlikely feel-good holiday classic…