The Redemptive Power in Failure

Today we're discussing how society has taught us to value the revenge narrative over the redemptive one and how that might effect us in doing the Good Fail.

HOW DID WE COME UP WITH THIS TOPIC FOR THE GOOD FAIL?

It all started with a discussion about the ending of a TV series.

WHAT WAS THIS DRAMA THEN?

Gold Digger. It was about a rich, older woman meeting and falling in love with a younger man. Much mystery surrounds the young mans past and his intentions.

THAT SOUNDS NICE BUT WHERE IS THIS LEADING?

By the end of the series we were convinced that someone was going to commit murder. But the ending was more radical then that! Our female heroine instead practiced forgiveness.

BUT WHY WERE WE SO CONVINCED MURDER WOULD BE INVOLVED?

Popular culture has come to revere the revenge narrative. This has skewed out perspective. Gold Digger broke this convention, as did another recent TV series, I May Destroy You.

STILL DON’T QUITE SEE HOW THIS RELATES TO THE GOOD FAIL?

Our culture sees revenge as action based and forgiveness as passive. This relates to The Good Fail because a similar relationship plays out between success and failure. Success=active and meaningful. Failure=passive and out of our control.

IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE FAILURE A POWERFUL CHOICE?

How many of us are mean to ourselves when we fail? Instead of taking revenge on ourselves this way we could choose to forgive ourselves instead.

WHAT CAN WE CONCLUDE FROM ALL THIS?

Both forgiveness and failure are seen as being passive but there are examples of both being very powerful and full of the meaning we crave.

WHAT’S OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS WEEK?

Gold Digger by Marnie Dickens

I May Destroy You by Michaela Coel

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