WEBVTT 1 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:16.960 Below, and welcome to Mythic Mind, where we pursue wisdom in the past 2 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:20.399 between primary and secondary worlds. I'm your host, Andrew Snyder, and I 3 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:33.079 am always grateful for your company. All right, welcome back, And before 4 00:00:33.079 --> 00:00:35.200 I get any further, I want to make sure that it takes some time 5 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:37.799 to thank all of my patrons, because I don't think I did that last 6 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:42.119 time. My patrons really make this possible by giving me the financial support that 7 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:46.880 buys me the time to invest in this podcast as well as broader projects I'm 8 00:00:46.880 --> 00:00:50.280 doing under the Mythic Mind banner. Now I should say that I recently changed 9 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:53.719 around some of the names of my Patreon tears to make things a little bit 10 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:56.880 more fun, and so I would now like to thank by name all patrons 11 00:00:56.880 --> 00:01:00.560 who are at the aspirant here or higher. So many thanks to Steele, 12 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:04.000 Matthew Landon, Joshua, Jocelyn, Jeremiah, Ian Emmy, Christopher Brandon, 13 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:07.920 Andrew Aaron, Aaron, Paul Aaron with an E and mart and of course 14 00:01:07.959 --> 00:01:11.719 all of my standard tier patrons as well. Thank you for your support. 15 00:01:11.799 --> 00:01:15.159 And if you're not already on Patreon, you can support me at patreon dot 16 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:19.840 com. Slash mythic mind. With your support, I can continue doing things 17 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:23.239 like this with more attention and frequency. Also, I just added a new 18 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:26.200 one dollar a month tier that will allow you to see Patreon exclusive posts, 19 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:30.959 including my recent post with a half off promo for some of the upcoming courses 20 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:34.239 that I'm leading. However, if you cannot or choose not to support me 21 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:37.000 financially at this time, but you do like the things that I put out 22 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:38.799 there, which I assume that you do if you're listening to this right now, 23 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:42.719 you can still help me out with visibility by going over to iTunes and 24 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:45.680 leaving me a five star review with comments. Now, if you could all 25 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:48.400 go and do that, that would be very helpful. Now. As I 26 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:51.519 mentioned in the last episode, my current series on beay Wolf is on hold 27 00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:55.120 as I wrap up this semester and finish getting things ready for the upcoming Lewis 28 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:57.640 Study, which by the way, is now up to fifty eight participants. 29 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:01.359 But I still felt like sharing some off the cuff thoughts with you right now. 30 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:06.640 I've been watching the new Fallout series on Amazon and I have some thoughts 31 00:02:06.879 --> 00:02:09.680 now. As a disclaimer, if you're not familiar with the Fallout franchise. 32 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:15.000 I am not necessarily suggesting that you absolutely need to or should go and watch 33 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:17.719 the show. I fully recognize that it has some content that many people might 34 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:23.280 understandably considered to be highly objectionable. For example, it is very violent. 35 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:27.759 Now I would say, it's like over the top kind of can be violent 36 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:30.520 to the extent that is almost cartoonish at times. And I mean, as 37 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:34.560 far as fake violence goes, it really doesn't bother me all that much. 38 00:02:34.599 --> 00:02:37.599 But I don't know. Maybe I'm just desensitized by this point. I don't 39 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:39.599 know. Also, there is a good bit of profanity, and from what 40 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:45.560 I've seen so far, I think two scenes with some rather unnecessary a nudity, 41 00:02:45.639 --> 00:02:47.479 although one of those in particular is not at all what I would consider 42 00:02:47.560 --> 00:02:52.680 a sexualized context, and the other, which is actually in the first episode, 43 00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:55.080 can be predicted and skipped easily enough. So with all that being said, 44 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:58.680 I would be sympathetic to someone who said that they cannot, in good 45 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.240 conscience enjoy the show, and you likely would not be impoverishing your life to 46 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:05.639 any significant degree if you decided to skip it. However, well, I 47 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:07.719 certainly would clean up certain elements of the show if I were in charge. 48 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:13.240 I don't find any of the content that it presents to incite anything particularly carnal 49 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:15.840 in me. But again, I mean, leave that up to your own 50 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:19.479 conscience, and it certainly is it something that I would be watching with my 51 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:23.599 kids at least anytime soon. Now, personally, I'm a big Fallout fan. 52 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:25.719 I'm into the franchise, and the show does a pretty good job of 53 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:30.439 capturing the world of Fallout now if you aren't familiar. Fallout began as a 54 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:34.719 video game series dating back into I believe ninety seven, and it continues up 55 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:38.319 to the present. The premise of this world of the story of the franchise 56 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:43.240 is that Cold War era fears of nuclear apocalypse finally came true in the year 57 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:47.080 twenty seventy seven, and so we give this fun retro futuristic setting of esthetics 58 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:52.599 from the nineteen fifties or so brought into the near future. In twenty seventy 59 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:57.159 seven, the so called Great War resulted in nuclear bombs detonating across the world, 60 00:03:57.319 --> 00:04:00.240 leading to the utter destruction and radiation of society. However, many people 61 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:05.439 thrived and protected underground shelters known as vaults, which were designed to preserve civilization 62 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:10.280 and tell the surface could be recolonized hundreds of years later, and those who 63 00:04:10.280 --> 00:04:14.159 do not make it to the vaults largely died, but the survivors form various 64 00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:18.279 factions, bands, and proto governmental entities. Others mutated due to the radiation, 65 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:23.079 turning into zombie like ghoules, some of which kept their intellect and others 66 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:26.720 of which did not. Now nearly all the creatures on the surface mutated into 67 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:33.199 some monstrous new variation, leading to this rather interesting futuristic neo fantasy wasteland setting. 68 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:38.519 And overall, the world of Fallout is very dire and most people are 69 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:44.279 well very bad. As people have struggled to survive, we see the breakdown 70 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:49.079 of previously accepted moral and social norms that had bound society together. However, 71 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:54.680 there are these occasional glimmers of hope that goodess can still be found in the 72 00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:58.600 most desolate of places. This is one theme of the show, as the 73 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:02.399 protagonist insists on the importance of the Golden Rule, even toward one of her 74 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:10.199 most particularly nihilistic temporary companions who had already mistreated her in some rather horrific ways. 75 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:13.199 And also, I mean at the beginning of the game Fallout three, 76 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:16.279 we actually get a Bible verse from Revelation, which shows that old wisdom still 77 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:21.680 has a role to play even in this what's reallyant this Healscape type setting. 78 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:26.279 And so why am I talking about all of this? Right? This is 79 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:30.920 primarily a literature podcast. Why am I talking about Fallout, this show, 80 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:34.199 this game. Well, for one, it's a fairly active force at the 81 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:38.240 moment, especially with the release of this new show, and I think that's 82 00:05:38.360 --> 00:05:41.399 enough reason to talk about it a little bit. Also, I do think 83 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:44.680 that there's some wisdom to be found here. Now. Any franchise that's able 84 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:47.839 to carry and continue to gain attention for a significant amount of time, in 85 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:54.360 this case almost three decades has to have something more than mere entertainment value. 86 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:58.279 Now, maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I believe that things with real 87 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:01.439 staying power have to speak to us on some kind of deep level. Even 88 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:09.279 those who do not intentionally examine themselves are ultimately seeking something real. Of course, 89 00:06:09.319 --> 00:06:13.040 the problem is that we often stop short of what reality actually is, 90 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:15.959 and then we mistake shadows for substance. And so that's where you know, 91 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:18.920 something like a game, movie and whatever, any kind of hobby, any 92 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:23.680 kind of interest can actually end up doing you harm if you kind of failed 93 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:27.480 to recognize that there is something more that it should be directing you toward. 94 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:31.160 However, if we recognize shadows as indicators of substance, then they consider a 95 00:06:31.240 --> 00:06:34.839 useful role in connecting us in the world around us to the reality that we 96 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:40.560 all desire to participate in, as well as the negative reality that we want 97 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:43.879 to avoid. I believe that this is true of good books, and that's 98 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:47.079 a large driving force for this podcast. But I also believe that it's true 99 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:53.920 even of great story driven video games. Now I don't play many games anymore. 100 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:56.120 I did a lot in my youth, but I really just have more 101 00:06:56.160 --> 00:06:59.560 important things going on right now. I mean, I don't mean to suggest 102 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:01.560 that you don't have important things going on if you are an adult and find 103 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:08.120 a responsible way to play games, just between family and work and other projects 104 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:11.319 and just things that take more of a leading role, and that you know, 105 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:14.360 I think should take more of a leading role. I simply don't have 106 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:17.079 that kind of time to, you know, invest in games. In fact, 107 00:07:17.160 --> 00:07:19.800 I probably have not bought a new one for over a decade or so, 108 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:25.240 but I still like to occasionally return to something from years gone by, 109 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:29.439 and Fallout is a common go to, especially Three New Vegas, which is 110 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:32.240 rightly a fan favorite, and four Now. Of course, they are fun, 111 00:07:32.319 --> 00:07:38.360 and one problem with taking something like a literary criticism lens to video games 112 00:07:38.439 --> 00:07:42.439 is that the amusement factor can often cloud our judgment of the story, leading 113 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:45.680 us to see something is better than it really is simply because it's fun. 114 00:07:45.800 --> 00:07:49.160 One criteria I like to use to determine whether we can at all bring a 115 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:55.199 game into a literary type conversation is to consider whether I would be interested in 116 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:58.560 reading a book that deals with the content of the game. If such a 117 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:03.160 book could be reasonably done well, then I argue that we can absolutely bring 118 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:07.759 such a game, such a story into conversation with literature, that it has 119 00:08:07.800 --> 00:08:11.399 a place at that table. Now, some games have writing that far exceeds 120 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:15.399 contemporary books, and they can deal with ideas, themes, and scenarios that 121 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:20.720 are very much in tune with reality. Is in a secondary world sense. 122 00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:24.560 The Fallout Law, in particular regarding the confusion, conspiracies and politics leading up 123 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:28.600 to the nuclear crisis, as well as the relationships that continue and are established 124 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:35.039 in the aftermath, deal with some interesting topics regarding the nature of society now 125 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:39.879 and what human nature and relations might look like when pressed into a place of 126 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:43.440 desperation. But I think that's all I want to say about that now, 127 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:46.759 because this is not really meant to be a deep dive of Fallout. As 128 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:50.360 I said, these are just some off the cuff thoughts. Now. If 129 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:52.360 that's something that you want me to delve into more, then let me know. 130 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:54.720 I would love to hear from you. And what are your thoughts on 131 00:08:54.799 --> 00:09:00.360 Fallout or on the role of video games in general. Can they be brought 132 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:05.320 into conversations with literature or are they nothing more than distractions? Right? Are 133 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:09.399 they just amusement or can they serve a noble purpose? And whether you agree, 134 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:11.279 disagree, or you have some nuance to contribute to what I've said, 135 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:15.039 I would love to hear from you. You can DM me on Twitter, 136 00:09:15.159 --> 00:09:18.440 email me at mythicmindpodcasts at gmail dot com, or my favorite option, you 137 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:22.799 can send me a short audio recording at speakpipe dot com slash Mythic Mind, 138 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:26.120 and I'll put that link in the show notes. If you reach out to 139 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:28.600 me, I'd be really happy to share and discuss your response on the show 140 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:31.440 and so again, let me know what you think about Fallout in particular or 141 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:35.000 story driven games in general. Send me a message or leave me a recording. 142 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:39.039 Oh, if you'd like for me to spend more time talking about some 143 00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:41.720 pop culture things, whether shows, movies, video games, that sort of 144 00:09:41.720 --> 00:09:46.879 thing, or if you'd rather just stick exclusively to books, then let me 145 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:50.120 know. I think that I will provide you with the best product simply by 146 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:54.360 doing the things that I find interesting. However, I very much value your 147 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:58.879 feedback. I want to make sure that I'm doing things that interest my regular 148 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:01.080 listeners. Well that's it for now. I hope to hear from you soon, 149 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:24.840 and I wish you many meaningful roads ahead. The music included in this 150 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:30.039 episode is owned by Bethesda, and it is not my intention to commit any 151 00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:33.799 kind of copyright fraud. Thank you Bethesda for not suing me.