The Danger of Nostalgia

It must have been cool to live in the 1940's and 50's and experience the original Batman and Superman comic books. Imagine being there, and experiencing their introductions first-hand, in a world that never saw them before.

It was cool growing up in the late 70's, and experiencing the golden age of roleplaying games. Going to the hobby store every week, and picking up a new game covering a new era or fantasy was cool and exciting.

I love my nostalgia, and I even love the new incarnations of Batman and D&D - but there is a danger here. Who is our generation's Batman-style hero? What new roleplaying game defines today? Repeating the past is just that, you take a new spin on an idea that has been around for a while. The danger is you are giving up the chance to create something new, something that has meaning today, and something that reflects on people's dreams and feelings now.

On the negative side, how many more superhero movie and RPG reboots do we need? I'm sure every generation would like their own spin put upon the Joker, Superman, and three kobolds in a room - but really, where is that something new? What monsters are we afraid of? What heroes do we want to be in return?

There are new ideas and heroes out there, one could say World of Warcraft defined its generation in place of an RPG; and Jack Bauer of 24 was our hero. Both of those pulled from the past for themes and inspiration, but they were new creations for our generation. You do get into the question of, "Really, what can you say is new?" Everything builds upon our past, and you can say the superheroes of today were based upon the Greek gods of ancient times. We subconsciously borrow our legends, our experiences define who we are, and we create the new from the old.

There is nothing wrong with reinterpreting the past and enjoying it. The danger comes when that is all that you do. For creative people, and creative gamers, we have to answer our generation's call when we hear it, and take a new course into uncharted lands. The next great superhero, the next great RPG, and the next great thing waiting to be discovered is just over that hill, waiting for you to find it.

Don't let the past slow you down.