2016 Year in Review

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

For the last month or so, I have seen memes popping up all over Facebook celebrating the fact that 2016 is about to end.  For many, the last year has been a slog through the worst; a horrible election, the death of so many accomplished musical and performing artists, shootings, riots; for these individuals, 2017 and a new start cannot come soon enough.  For me, though, 2016 has been a year like and unlike any other.  Yes, it had its shortfalls, and some of those have been awful, but it has also had its shining moments, its own delights and treasures.  This post is remember what 2016 has been about.  Be warned, this is my list, so I might miss some of the low-lights or highlights simply because I wasn’t interested in them and don’t remember them.  That being said, lets take a look back at 2016.

The Worst
Yes, is some ways, 2016 has been “the worst.”  The presidential election was sssooo long, sssooo full of mudslinging and corruption, that I was just glad it was over.  Except it wasn’t.  Because no matter what your political stripe, social media ensured that everyone had a platform to spew their own political venom at those who disagreed with them.  Overall, the whole process for like watching a badly acted Shakespearean tragedy: fascinating, painful, a bit hard to understand, and ultimately unfulfilling and leaving you wanting something different.

Following hard on the heels of the election came another of the “worsts” of 2016: the riots.  Some people called this events “protests,” but any protest that involves the destruction of private property and physical assault of other people is, in my opinion, not a protest, but a riot.  If the point you are trying to make in your protest is drowned out by the clang of firetrucks, and the cries on injured citizens, it is not an effective protest.  I don’t want to say much more on the subject, but ultimately, I think that these individuals did their cause more harm than good; stifling effective communication about their cause and grievances and alienating those they sought to “inform.”

On a lighter, but no less “the worst” note, the D.C. “cinematic universe,” also took a bit of a beating this year.  It started poorly with Batman V Superman, a film that was almost universally disliked because of its lack of understanding of its source material, poor script, weird casting, and visual un-originality.  While the film had its good moments (Affleck as Batman was actually a very good choice), it simply could not break past the roadblocks it created for itself.  This was followed up by the highly anticipated and hugely disappointing Suicide Squad.  The trailers for this film got everyone really excited; after the success of Deadpool, superhero movie fans were thrilled with the possibility of another antihero movie.  Unfortunately, Suicide Squad took all the wrong lesson s from both Deadpool and Guardians of the Galaxy, choosing to focus on action over character, and quirkiness over substantial plot.  The film hesitated to embrace the darkness of its characters, and instead tried to turn the antiheroes into true heroes, a step that undercut the very premise of the film.  Suicide Squad turn out to be another “eh” D.C. film in the growing “meh” D.C. cinematic universe.

This year we have also lost a number of celebrities.  Of particular note are the deaths of Muhammed Ali, Alan Rickman, Gene Wilder, Prince, and David Bowie.  Each of these men were giants in their particular fields, and the world will miss their contributions.  Even this late in the year, we are still mourning the continued loss of celebrity lights.  Over the last couple of days we have lost mother and daughter, Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, whose work in Singing in the Rain and Star Wars respectively have been a major influence on my childhood.  While death is a part of life, and all things come to an end, it has been difficult to see so many amazing talents cut off, many of them “before their time.” 2016 has, in many ways, been a year of mourning.

This last one is a bit of a personal “worst,” but the San Francisco 49ers have been absolutely terrible this year.  With a win/loss record of 2/13, this year for the 49ers has been defined by shoddy defense, poor tackling, and and an utter lack of motivation.  The situation has not been helped by the spotlight on Colin Kaepernick for his refusal to stand for the national anthem.  While I understand and uphold his right as an American to protest, I think his decision to do so has been selfish and shortsighted, and served only to polarize people instead of opening up channels of conversation.  It has also distracted from the team’s poor performance, and I think that as a professional, being paid very good money to play a game, it would behoove the team in the future to focus more on doing their jobs and winning football games and less on making political statements.

The Best
For all the crummy things in 2016, there have been some highlights too.  The Marvel Universe introduced two fantastic installments this year; Captain America: Civil War, and Dr. Strange.  Both of these films were engaging, action packed, with good stories, incredible acting, and awesome visuals.  Not only were these new installments well constructed, but they also gave room for Marvel’s T.V. properties to head some new and interesting directions as well.  Netflix’s Luke Cage, while not quite as brilliant as Netflix’s Daredevil, brought some really interesting dynamics and themes to the street level heroes of New York, along with dealing critically with the complicated nature of gang violence, race and police tensions, and the morality of vigilante “justice.”  Particularly compelling was the portrayal of a bulletproof African American superhero, in light of renewed tensions between people of color and police and new accusations of police brutality.  Also of note in the Marvel Extended Universe is the most recent season of Agents of Shield.  While the show has consistently struggled with maintaining a sense of direction as the various films pull the series in different directions, the most recent season has made excellent use of the latest forays in the M.C.U.; embracing both the complicated morality of Civil War and the Zerkovia Accords, and the addition of magic as a relevant factor in the M.E.U.  Particularly interesting has been the addition of the character of the Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes to the team, along with Ava, an android that (spoilers) has read the dark magic book “The Darkhold,” and has basically become a “scientific sorceress” if I may coin the term.  It is really cool to see the show dealing with this concept of “magic as science” that has been such a consistent factor in the M.U., in light of the addition of Dr. Strange to the canon.  There is an awesome tension between the strictly rational characters like Fitz, Simmons, and even Ava herself, and the impossible circumstances of the Ghost Rider and the power and nefarious intent of “the Darkhold.”  I am very much looking forward to seeing the series continue in this direction next year, and I am looking forward to the new projects that Marvel has coming up.

While the D.C. cinematic universe made it into the “worsts” of 2016, the D.C. television universe (or “Arrow-verse”) has definitely been a highlight.  As the C.W. has added more and wider ranging shows to their universe, the clever combination of camp, earnestness, and action has been more than enough to win over audiences.  2016 saw the addition of two more shows to the Arrow-verse (previously composed of Arrow and The Flash); Supergirl, which premiered on CBS but moved to the CW at the beginning of the fall season, and Legends of Tomorrow, a Dr. Who? meets Firefly meets The Avengers style time travel romp with equal parts campiness and heart.  Between the four shows, D.C. definitely has something to be proud of.  The Flash is, arguably, the best superhero show on television right now, defined by interesting and likable characters tackling the absurd situations inherent to a comic book universe with compassion and humor.  Although the show waxes melodramatic at times, the tone generally fits with the (rather silly) comic book style, and the way The Flash has totally embraced its own absurdity is one of its great charms.  Arrow maintains a slightly more serious tone in keeping with the show’s darker history, but is also moving toward the more traditional “comic book,” feel.  Introduction of new characters this season has changed up the dynamic on “Team Arrow,” allowing for new developments in the old characters and explorations of more mature themes like how to be a good leader, and the consequences of one’s actions.  Supergirl is, as one would expect, a much more peppy and upbeat show, that emphasizes the importance of negotiation and empathy as tools for saving the world as much as superpowers.  The show has a uniquely feminine quality to it, as it centers around the relationship between Kara Danvers (Supergirl), and her adoptive sister Alex.  Many of the recurring villains have been female as well, which creates a really cool and different dynamic in the testosterone laden realm of super-heroics.  While the show has a slight tendency to get political, particularly in its feminism, the upbeat atmosphere and always hopeful Kara are enough to keep me coming back for more.  Rounding out the Arrow-verse is Legends of Tomorrow, a show about a group of time traveling superheroes galavanting through history, protecting it from the manipulations of “time pirates,” super-villains looking to alter history for their own nefarious purposes.  While the show sometimes gets bogged down by its overly complicated plots and occasionally underwhelming effects, for the most part it is an enjoyable, philosophically interesting, and entertaining show.  Some of the cast struggle in their performances (I personally cannot stand Hawkgirl and Hawkman from season one), but it is more than made up for by the excellent performances of most of the rest of the cast.  Arthur Darvill is brilliant as Captain Rip Hunter, a Time Master who recruits the other heroes on his mission to restore justice to the timeline.  Other standouts are Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell as Captain Cold and Heat Wave.  These two have a very obvious chemistry that comes from their previous work together on Prison Break, and they bring a delightfully anti-heroic, disrespectful humor to the otherwise straight-laced ensemble.  Although Miller had to leave the regular cast at the end of the first season, he is scheduled to appear in a number of episodes on all four shows in the Arrow-verse over the course of the season, and I am certainly looking forward to his return.  Despite its flaws, Legends of Tomorrow has quickly become one of my favorite shows, and was one of the highlights of 2016.

Not to nerd out too much, but people also forget we got a new Harry Potter book this year.  Cursed Child came out in July and provided what people have been speculating about for years; canon on what happened to Harry after his 7 years at Hogwarts.  Not only that, we got a new film in the Wizarding World; Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and tons of cool new information about Wizarding in America; history of Ilvermorny school, the houses, new sorting tests, and tons of new world-building information about this story that millions of people have come to know and love.  It may not be a big thing, but learning more about the history, geography, and biology of the Wizarding world of Harry Potter has definitely been a highlight of 2016.

This year has not only been a good year in film and television, but in athletics as well.  This year we watched in awe as men and women from around the world came to Rio to celebrate the ancient tradition of peaceful competition and nationalism at the Olympic games.  We in the United States cheered the amazing performances of the women’s gymnastic team, of various members of our swim team, of our volleyball, basketball, soccer, water polo players, and applauded the efforts and strength of athletes from dozens of countries around the world.  The Olympic games are a celebration of humanity, of the strength and courage that transcends national boundaries, of commitment and discipline that pushes individuals to become the best in the world at a sport.

The Unknown
I saw an interesting post on Facebook the other day, which said, “We do not know when great talent is born, only when it passes.  Let us hope that 2016 has been a year, not only of great deaths, but of births.”  I love this post, because it places life in perspective.  We do not yet know which incredible writers, actors, singers, world leaders, ministers, athletes, and artists of 2016 will be yet, but there is certainly much to look forward too.  Similarly, regardless of how you wanted the election to go, we do not yet know whether the election of Donald Trump will be a best or a worse of 2016.  All we can do as we close the year is look to the future, and hope that it is brighter than the past.  I look into 2017, and I am filled with excitement; new Netflix shows like the second season of Stranger Things or the introduction of Iron Fist and The Defenders.  A new season of Prison Break.  Musical crossover episodes of The Flash and Supergirl.  New properties from the MCU like Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, Spiderman: Homecoming, and Thor: Ragnarok.  The next Star Wars installment, Wonder Woman, new episodes of Sherlock.  The list goes on, and these are just the things I know about.  What wonderful surprises; new books, songs, athletic events, viral videos, or changes in governments might come with the new year?  As I look back on 2016, I see a year of the anticipated and the unexpected, a year of both great joy and terrible sadness.  But that is life, and as I look into 2017 I see the same; loss and gain, happiness and sorrow, a mixed bag that is made so much more interesting because we don’t know what it will ultimately be like.  So as we come to the end of the year, look back on the good along with the bad.  Remember the highs and the lows, so that we can be prepared to rise and fall again with 2017.

Some Post-Election Thoughts

Dear Readers,

Well, the election is over.  The new president has been showing, and to the astonishment (and chagrin) of many, it is Donald J. Trump who has claimed victory.  I have spent a fair bit of time over the last year writing my thoughts on the election.  Those of you who have been following me consistently know that Mr. Trump was not my first (or even my fifteenth) choice for president, but for all that, the people have spoken.  I wanted to use this first political post after the election to address everyone… the people who are disappointed, the people who are thrilled, the people who are protesting, the pundits proclaiming the peril of the President-Elect’s “chaotic transition team.”  I am going to try to present a balanced alternative to the strident divisiveness that has fragmented my country (and frankly, the world).

DON’T PANIC!
Oftentimes, when the internet seems to be exploding with the next world ending political disaster, Douglas Adam’s comes to me speaking words of wisdom and comfort; “DON’T PANIC!” Anyone who loves science fiction and fantasy knows, to their deeply abiding comfort, that apocalypses come and go, and the world keeps spinning (more or less).  Yeah, things get hard for a time, but hard times end.  To quote Lord of The Rings, “Even darkness must pass, and when the sun shines out, it will shine all the clearer.”  The world is not going to end because one man, even a man as fallen and imperfect as Donald Trump, gets elected.  We have had good presidents and bad presidents, and one thing has remained consistent… America continues.  Each side believes that the election of the candidate they oppose will result in the destruction of our country, and each election they are proven wrong as presidents follow each other in the peaceful transfer of power, resulting in a diversity of governments and perspectives that provides a balance for our nation.

It is on this concept of the peaceful transition of power that I want to focus.  In my experience, the panic that ensues when the candidate of “the wrong party” gets elected has a way of highlighting the fractured values of our country.  Because whenever a liberal is elected, conservatives cry, “Woe is me… how can we stop our country from becoming a socialist dictatorship?” and every time a conservative is elected, liberals cry, “Woe is me! How can we stop our country from becoming a fascist dictatorship?”  What each side fails to recognize is the value that the other has to offer.  Liberalism is defined by a heart for the wellbeing of people; a desire to see people be treated fairly, equally, with respect, especially people who have been marginalized in the past.  As a conservative, I see the value of their perspective.  There needs to be well intentioned radicals pushing against those things in our society that we view as normal, but which are, in fact, oppressive.  BUT.  There is always a “but” here… conservatives have something to offer too.  Not all the institutions that exist need or deserve to be destroyed; indeed, some institutions perpetuate because they are necessary or beneficial.  The conservative’s job is to conserve… to preserve the status quo from total disruption in order to maintain those institutions deserving of continuation.  Both liberalism and conservatism have their function within society; both serve a critical role in maintaining the stability of the nation and allowing it to continue on a path of improvement.

It is this perspective of liberalism and conservatism as balancing forces that informs my perspective on President Elect Trump.  For the last eight years we have had policies informed by a liberal agenda.  As such, we have had radical changes in healthcare, in the legality of gay marriage and of marijuana, and in our foreign and domestic policy.  Those changes have been representative of a little over half the population of America, particularly those of the urban, coastal states.  However, the opinions of the more conservative, rural states (and parts of states) have been underrepresented in the last eight years.  Donald Trump’s election swings the pendulum back toward the other side of the spectrum.  It is a push back against recklessly radical policies that have endangered those institutions that conservatives value and believe are worth saving.  That being said, Donald Trump is, in many ways, a less radical option than many liberals would have people believe.  For many years, Trump was a Democrat.  He has been honored for his work promoting racial equality, and he has demonstrated a businessman’s acumen for choosing employees on the basis of their qualifications, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation.  While traditional Republican candidates ascribe to Evangelical Christian values, and have a tendency to promote social and religious conservatism (e.g. pro-life, anti gay marriage), Trump ran on a policy of fiscal and governmental conservatism.  He did not win by saying he would overturn Roe V. Wade, but by claiming he would reform policies that were ineffective, that he would enforce the laws of the land (i.e. illegal immigration- it’s not about racism, its about legality), and that he would fight against the systemic corruption in the government.  In choosing Donald Trump, Americans were not gravitating toward the most radical conservative candidate, but toward the candidate that would not oppose many of the liberal reforms the previous administration made, but who would instead be able to create effective policies that WORK!  Donald Trump’s election is not America backsliding in to racist, misogynist, homophobic hysteria, but instead is America asking for effective policies; healthcare that works, enforcement of the laws of the land in regard to immigration, a tax code that is simple and promotes economic growth, more people working, and more people working full time jobs with benefits instead of working multiple part time jobs to barely stay afloat.  America looked at a successful businessman, a man who was not immersed in the systemic corruption of the established government, a man who was unafraid to promote fiscal and political conservatism, even under the threat of liberal backlash, and the American people decided that this was a healthy, balanced direction for the nation after eight years of liberal policies.

To Summarize
The world is not going to end because the pendulum swings from liberal to conservative and back again.  The new president deserves a chance to implement policy and see the consequences of those policies before we condemn him as incompetent.  In his cabinet, he has made choices that liberals do not like; that is his right as the president elect.  Conservatives were not happy with President Obama’s choices either… get over it! The sky is not falling, the world will continue to spin, and who knows? The choices the president elect has made might end up being brilliant, they might do a good job.  Give them, and the president elect a chance to succeed or fail on their own merits, not on the basis of conjecture, panic, or political self aggrandizing.

Well, back to reality!