Fiction that screwed up it's own point.

[Teen Spirit]

Basically fiction that was trying to send a message, make a statement or say something but screwed it up in one way or another. Either through bad writing or just not firmly grasping the point it was trying to make. Like an Anti-War piece that made War too glorious, IE: Some of the sub-par Gundam Series.


My example is the Play/Movie, King Charles III. And I apologize if this gets slightly political. King Charles III depicts a future situation dealing with the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth II's death. The movie has a distinct anti-monarchy bent to it, at the very least it makes clear that it doesn't feel Charles, as portrayed in it at least, is not fit to be King. Problem is the driving conflict underlining this is about a Bill concerning the media that is draconian at best, not to mention the prime minister tries to convince him to sign on the bill by bringing up Diana which feels really distasteful.

Then you get to this scene.


Charles is suppose to be in the wrong here, but nothing really conveys that. Indeed it almost seems like it suppose to be the first time Charles really shows himself worthy of the Throne. And yet the rest of the movie acts like he did the worst thing.

 

[TreeFrogSoup]

American History X may have tried to set up a total message that was anti-racist, but by having everything look so stylish they made the neo nazism look too tempting. Similarly, Fight Club has the same flaw.

"Seduction to ideology then corruptive fall" fails as a message. too many people get seduced too hard for the second part. First impressions and all that.

 

[Nikkolas]

American History X may have tried to set up a total message that was anti-racist, but by having everything look so stylish they made the neo nazism look too tempting. Similarly, Fight Club has the same flaw.

"Seduction to ideology then corruptive fall" fails as a message. too many people get seduced too hard for the second part. First impressions and all that.

Click to shrink...

See also Scarface. The point is a good one - these people are not cartoon characters. Folks are attracted to stuff that is appealing therefore the film has to show us the appeal of being a Neo Nazi or a drug lord. But people get fixated and stuck on that part and kinda tune out the rest.

It's a tough line to walk.