War Against Change

What to do you writers and storytellers think about this week's TAR "The War Against Change"? Do you think the role of the good guy is to make sure nothing changes? Does the Star Wars saga fit this pattern, do you think?

Has anybody read Joseph Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces? Are you familiar with the model of the hero's journey? Do you think that fits with a war against change?

I have not read Hero with a Thousand Faces but I am familiar with the hero's journey story type. I don't think Star Wars fit the mold of a war against change story since the whole saga hinges on the main characters changing a large portion of their universe. It will be interesting to see how the next installment takes the story further.

I do agree with the critique of the Harry Potter franchise. I would go so far as to say that the war on change extends to the characters themselves. Rowling's characters are cast as good or evil from the start and are unable to grow out of their roles. For example, Voldemort (the antagonist) is pure evil. He has no redemptive qualities and is almost alien in his lack of empathy and desire for power. Dumbledore (the hero's mentor) is good and all his actions are viewed through a Machiavellian lens that can excuse anything. Irrespective of the actions these characters take the books still view them as good or bad.

I must admit that the accusations made by the ADR, regarding the story as a whole, were not something that I had considered before but in hindsight it makes sense. At the end of the series when the evil is banished everything goes back to normal - there is no change, or progress for the wizarding society as a whole.

With regards to the question concerning the hero's role I think it mirrors human nature. People are more comfortable with what is familiar. So if the hero is in a comfortable position before the antagonist arrives he (or she) will do their utmost to bring things back to the way they were. On the other hand if the hero is placed in a position of being oppressed he will fight the antagonist and the system in order to reach a position where he feels justice is served. Harry Potter and Star Wars make excellent examples for these two cases since both are classic stories of the hero's journey form.

This behavior is very human - few people would go out of their way to upset the apple-cart if they are in a position of privilege compared to people who will fight with everything they have, if they have nothing.