Thread by @HariSel57511397

I will always point to the X Files as the most important *modern* text for RW writers. It's about the American Empire trying to contain spiritual realities--which is a far stranger, more dangerous world than anyone wants to admit. It's a story set right before the collapse. 1/

The sword hanging over nearly every episode is either our protagonist Mulder breaking the news to the public or the monster getting out. In either case, American normalcy dies. The world of consumerism is traded for a plunge into reality. No one wants this to happen but... /2

If we were to take the show seriously, it's practically inevitable. The government (as villains) in the story aren't overlords. They are one bad day away from the whole thing falling into shambles. The empire is crumbling. Those not blinded can feel it in their bones. /3

And to take a far more serious tone for a moment, we are living in the reality where the monsters are breaking through. I make this comparison not to make light of the tragedy, but to highlight that the modern world is incapable of dealing or addressing with these things. /4

We are currently living through the times where the X Files monster gets out. Terrible, dangerous things are prowling out there. Things that are shattering norms and unraveling society. The show always ends with the status quo, but we are living post the status quo. /5

I think it is the duty of artists to confront the problems of the times they live in. This is why I drew the connection. I don't view fiction as childish. And I pray my comparison is not distasteful. The modern man is realizing good and evil actually exists. /6

This destroys the old world where we could contain the uncomfortable to an episode on television. It's viscerally present. We can't dismiss it come the next forty-five minutes. We have to live with the consequences. /7

And this comes to my lighter point. RW art, if it is to be meaningful, cannot take a status quo attitude to its commentary. You must depict the world after the X Files episode. There's no reset button. Yes, the horrific exists, and it can't be shuffled as *problematic* /8

I think RW art of the future is going to be the world after the X Files. It necessarily has to be to say anything True. This is why my favorite writings prompt is "Take an X File episode and follow the consequences to its natural conclusion" /9

The easy part for RW artists is that liberals already voiced every criticism of their ideology. They just pretended they had an answer and shoved the problem offstage. RW art is just picking up where they couldn't go any farther. /end

Would love your thoughts on this

@BrianNiemeier @KingEmprPenguin @UnicornFren @ThomBrady5 @TheBlackHorse65