I am really against the whole genre of willpower fetishization. Willpower is one tool—not the entire toolbox.
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Stories where characters make unique, surprising, or difficult decisions.
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That might seem similar, but it’s not. Focusing on willpower leads to burnout, focusing on agency leads to imagination.
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I don’t really know a good name for “agency fiction”. Probably the closest category is “competency porn”.
But I think that’s usually a bit broader, and includes stories about people who are good at stuff, but aren’t making any interesting decisions.
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Competence porn is the term you’re looking for
en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/competenc
telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-m
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I’m saying it’s too broad. I’m not very interested in it generically, and I’m trying to zero in on the aspect I actually find compelling.
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Categories here:
1. Competency porn (superheroes, Sherlock, etc)
2. Willpower fetishization (Pursuit of Happyness, sports movies)
3. Agency fiction (Kobayashi Maru, surprising choices and decisions)
4. Transformation fiction (Cinderella)
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Ah misread that sorry
Did you watch The Accountant? Most interesting example imo. Limitless was kinda trite.
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I feel like I have some kind of big taste disconnect here.
I enjoyed both John Wick and the Accountant, but I feel like others see them as a revelation, and I’m missing something.
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But I did think it was good. Reminds me somewhat of “Hanna”, which is probably the premise I’ve connected with the most. Haven’t seen the new series yet.
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