Themes and Politics

[Justin Rocket]

Growing up, I read a lot of King novels and one thing that seemed consistent was a particular theme. In Firestarter, the conflict was between an institution (The Shop) and the individual. In Silver Bullet, the conflict was between the institution (organized religion as represented by the priest) and the individual (the loving, alcoholic uncle and the disabled boy). In Needful Things, the conflict was between the institution (capitalism) and the individual. In the Stand, the conflict was between the institution (organized religion) and the individual (the spirituality of Mother Abigail).

So, I thought King was a fan of the hero myth and distrusted institutionalization. But, he's a Democrat.

Doesn't that create some serious cognitive dissonance?

 

[Walter Oobleck]

"The only thing dumber than a broody hen was a New York Democrat." --Mother Abigail, The Stand

And fairly prophetic, considering the coming coronation in 2016.

Kinda like the Catch-22...you catch the fly-over of D.C.? World War 2 planes, bombers, flying over, V-E Day, 70 years ago.

 

[kingricefan]

There's gotta be some type of underlying conflict/theme or it would be a rather boring book. Dean Koontz has the same thing going on in his earlier books- the individual against the corporation/Big Brother/omni-present scientists/governemnt agencies/etc. I sent him (Koontz) a letter a long time ago asking him about why he was seemingly always putting our government in a bad light and received a wonderful hand-written note back from him, explaining that he loved our country and thought our government system was the best in the world. Hmmm, maybe I ought to write him back and ask him what he thinks about our government now.....

 

[jchanic]

Corporations, being soulless, make good "bad guys". It's a lot harder to demonize an individual (though King does a good job of this, too) to create any conflict.

John

 

[Justin Rocket]

Corporations, being soulless, make good "bad guys". It's a lot harder to demonize an individual (though King does a good job of this, too) to create any conflict.

John

But, he doesn't demonize just corporations. He demonizes government and other institutions as well which led me to believe that he'd be non-partisan.

 

[staropeace]

I bet he does not think much about the theme. He goes where the story leads him.

 

[jchanic]

But, he doesn't demonize just corporations. He demonizes government and other institutions as well which led me to believe that he'd be non-partisan.

A good point. I should have included the government when I said corporations. As far as King's being non-partisan, his actions have shown him to be a staunch Democrat.

John

 

[skimom2]

I think it comes from being a young adult in the 60s/early 70s and the myriad of issues (particularly, but not exclusive to, Vietnam) political and social that came to a head during that time. Don't trust the gov't (Vietnam), don't trust ed institutions (Kent State, U. Alabama), Don't trust politicians (Watergate), don't trust social institutions (various entities that refused to give equal rights to minorities or women)...pretty much, don't trust anyone or any institution that has too much power/authority. I've seen the same sorts of reaction in a lot of authors that I like that came into their adulthood in the same era. TBH, I get sort of tired of it, particularly Vietnam references, but I missed being in that demographic by a few years .

 

[PatInTheHat]

W

Growing up, I read a lot of King novels and one thing that seemed consistent was a particular theme. In Firestarter, the conflict was between an institution (The Shop) and the individual. In Silver Bullet, the conflict was between the institution (organized religion as represented by the priest) and the individual (the loving, alcoholic uncle and the disabled boy). In Needful Things, the conflict was between the institution (capitalism) and the individual. In the Stand, the conflict was between the institution (organized religion) and the individual (the spirituality of Mother Abigail).

So, I thought King was a fan of the hero myth and distrusted institutionalization. But, he's a Democrat.

Doesn't that create some serious cognitive dissonance?

What?

 

[Justin Rocket]

W

What?

"Cognitive Dissonance" is "the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change"

 

[Neesy]

Growing up, I read a lot of King novels and one thing that seemed consistent was a particular theme. In Firestarter, the conflict was between an institution (The Shop) and the individual. In Silver Bullet, the conflict was between the institution (organized religion as represented by the priest) and the individual (the loving, alcoholic uncle and the disabled boy). In Needful Things, the conflict was between the institution (capitalism) and the individual. In the Stand, the conflict was between the institution (organized religion) and the individual (the spirituality of Mother Abigail).

So, I thought King was a fan of the hero myth and distrusted institutionalization. But, he's a Democrat.

Doesn't that create some serious cognitive dissonance?

You mean you can't be both?

 

[Justin Rocket]

You mean you can't be both?

Can't be both what, an institution and an individual? That's pretty much reserved for people like Joan Rivers.

 

[PatInTheHat]

"Cognitive Dissonance" is "the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change"

Ah...ohhhh...really?...hmmmm....
Okey dokey den, try this one...
Reading comprehension....Go!

 

[Justin Rocket]

Ah...ohhhh...really?...hmmmm....
Okey dokey den, try this one...
Reading comprehension....Go!

Perhaps you could explain why you posted

W

What?

? It looks like something put your knickers in a twist or is this standard behavior for you?

 

[Ragan]

Can't be both what, an institution and an individual? That's pretty much reserved for people like Joan Rivers.

Meanwhile, being an individual in an institution is not all that difficult if you put in the effort.

 

[PatInTheHat]

Perhaps you could explain why you posted
? It looks like something put your knickers in a twist or is this standard behavior for you?

I have no behavior which is standard, but thanks for the inquiry.
'Knickers in a twist' -SNORT- I love that one, but nah, ain't even got my panties in a bunch, and yes I believe there is a difference.
Just don't know how you go about, let's go with, catagorizing...or making comparisons.
Like say, Needful Things for one, how do you make the capitalism v. individual comparison?
See me, stuff like that sometimes makes myself go all, 'Huh?', and/or 'What?', and all, is all, and I shared.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

I think the conflict resides in those who refuse to allow an individual be an individual. "yea, verily, whenever two or three of you are gathered together, some other guy is going to get the living sh*t knocked out of him." So in a sense, the institution is often no larger than a group of two or three. One can communicate with a single leather-head, but when several are gathered together, like the low boys in orange shirts, "you're not mean when you're by yourself, why do you have to mean now!" Thus spoke Carol. So, what's to do? Put on some Baby Elephant Walk and pull watermelon outta the garden, dance to the music. That or feed on brains. Find out where they're flocking, roosting, round em up and dump em at sea. The flocking was only the beginning of it. The whole town is wired for sound, all those connections...and even when the guy is innocent, they send him down the green mile and the guy who pulls the switch is a hero 'cause he has bladder problems. But he still pulled the switch. He could have made a stand but chose not too. Part of the institution. He lived long, prospered.

 

[M&P15]

Growing up, I read a lot of King novels and one thing that seemed consistent was a particular theme. In Firestarter, the conflict was between an institution (The Shop) and the individual. In Silver Bullet, the conflict was between the institution (organized religion as represented by the priest) and the individual (the loving, alcoholic uncle and the disabled boy). In Needful Things, the conflict was between the institution (capitalism) and the individual. In the Stand, the conflict was between the institution (organized religion) and the individual (the spirituality of Mother Abigail).

So, I thought King was a fan of the hero myth and distrusted institutionalization. But, he's a Democrat.

Doesn't that create some serious cognitive dissonance?

I really don't see how conflict with organized religion and capitalism is inconsistent with Democrat politics, and conflict with the Government can be due to the party in power at the time.

Kings politics are everywhere, from the forwards and afterwards in his books to his heroic characters praising Democrat presidents, Ralph in insomnia praising Clinton and Jake in 63 praising Obama and villians (Jim Rennie) having photos with Sarah Palin.

 

[Justin Rocket]

"I really don't see how conflict with organized religion and capitalism"

They aren't. A broad conflict with institutions is, though (political parties are institutions).

 

[Neesy]

Can't be both what, an institution and an individual? That's pretty much reserved for people like Joan Rivers.

Can you be a fan of the hero myth AND a Democrat? (It's like you are stereotyping Democrats, I think - although I am Canadian so I am not all that up to date on American politics actually).