The End of Pretend
I remember sitting in the classroom in fourth grade, staring at the clock like a hawk. The second that recess bell rang, I ran to the playground shouting, “I get to be Boba Fett!” Does anyone else remember when pretending ruled the land?
I remember hearing the stories of the indigenous people of America looking out to sea and not being able to perceive Columbus’ ships. Since they had never seen something like them before, their brains could not comprehend the scene in front of them.
When I look to the horizon, I see something very frightening: the end of original video games, comic books and movies. Why? Because the core that fuels all of these — imagination — is about to die. All the people who contributed these great gifts pretended as children. This vital part of cultivating imagination is dying.
We have created a double-edged sword. Let me explain why our creations are now hurting us. There are many important factors to cultivating the imagination of a child. One of the most vital is life experiences. The truth of the matter is children are playing video games instead of accumulating life experiences. We must remember the people who created these games, books and films cultivated their imagination through life experiences. What will our video games look like years from now if they are created by people who lack life experiences?
Next, we must look at the two major means by which we cultivate our imagination. First, through an external stimulus, such as a movie, video game or comic book. This form of stimulation is considered external because it is not evoked from within the child. These are constrained and confined by the people creating these forms of media. With external stimulus the child has no control over how their imagination will manifest itself, as it has already been done for them. Second, through an internal stimulus, such as pretending, art, music or writing. In these, the child’s own imagination is key, and there are no limitations. With this stimulus the child has control of how the imagination will manifest itself. This form of stimulation is the most important to cultivating the imagination.
These comments are not intended to bash the industries listed above, but rather to save them. I can’t stand it when people complain without considering solutions to their problems. So, I offer a solution: Parents, sit down with your children and have them design their own video game based on their own life experiences. What if your son wants to make a video game based on a temple in Peru? Pick up a book or watch The History Channel’s “Digging for the Truth” or “Lost Worlds.” Better yet go to a historical museum and see the actual artifacts used by the Moche priests. Afterward, venture outside and pretend you are in Moche temple in Peru. You have just created a life experience and stimulated the imagination using an internal stimulus.
Publishers and movie studios: Art, music, theater and dance are all areas of study that receive the short end of the stick when colleges cut their budgets. Why are VH-1 and Disney the only ones who see the importance of preserving these courses? Help these schools keep their creative departments alive, which will in turn keep you alive.
I see a solemn and old bounty hunter sitting on the sidelines waiting to be free once again. Let’s give the old dog his day in the sun. There are too many Boba Fett helmets sitting on the shelves collecting dust.
Michael Erkiletian