Winning and Losing
I was wondering why the movie "High School Musical" could even be so captivating for the audience of 5 years old, the likes of my daughter (who was actually 4 when she first watched it, having been introduced to it by a "boyfriend" of hers, thereafter having watched almost a hundred times). On one of those almost hundred times of viewing, I accompanied her to watch it from the beginning to end. It is indeed an on-screen musical and drama nicely done, thrilling for the young audience and even entertaining for the adults.
It is captivating as a love story subtly presented, without a single shot of kissing scene (therefore suitable for children), but leaving to the wild imagination of the young mind. But it is more thrilling for the sensation of success conveyed, out of the multi-talented achievements of both Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez; for the euphoria of breaking free, as epitomized by the winning show of audition of this perfect pair of lovers in the end; indeed for the perfect kind of youthful success in high school life.
As for the adults like myself, one could not help but feel nostalgic, if not for the youthful life that once was, for the one that could have been. When the mind was still fresh and young, one tended to admire heros, in academics, in sports and in social performance. Beyond admiration, one may even let the imagination run wild - if only I could be the hero instead. Perhaps it is not in everyone's character to crave for the spot light on the centre stage. No doubt many people are happy to be among the audience enjoying looking up to the stage. It is a matter of fact that egoism is manifested differently from different people.
And egoism needs no explanation, which is the basic sense of self of an individual. People need recognition and want admiration as a matter of nature. Those who advocate otherwise do so just to sound being different from the rest, therefore, effectively asking for recognition as being special. The sharp distinction between the sensations associated with winning and losing should be clear enough for anyone - who would prefer being the vaquished to being the winner?
But no one can win all the time. There bounds to be disappointment in life for everyone. There is also the scenario of a draw, when no one wins or loses, or perhaps when winning and losing may not be that clear-cut. It's all just up in the mind after all. But what motivates people to tick remains all the same - the desire to be the winner and feel like one or, at least, to avoid being a loser and feel as such. "Winning and losing" could make an enlightening theme of a story line.
It is captivating as a love story subtly presented, without a single shot of kissing scene (therefore suitable for children), but leaving to the wild imagination of the young mind. But it is more thrilling for the sensation of success conveyed, out of the multi-talented achievements of both Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez; for the euphoria of breaking free, as epitomized by the winning show of audition of this perfect pair of lovers in the end; indeed for the perfect kind of youthful success in high school life.
As for the adults like myself, one could not help but feel nostalgic, if not for the youthful life that once was, for the one that could have been. When the mind was still fresh and young, one tended to admire heros, in academics, in sports and in social performance. Beyond admiration, one may even let the imagination run wild - if only I could be the hero instead. Perhaps it is not in everyone's character to crave for the spot light on the centre stage. No doubt many people are happy to be among the audience enjoying looking up to the stage. It is a matter of fact that egoism is manifested differently from different people.
And egoism needs no explanation, which is the basic sense of self of an individual. People need recognition and want admiration as a matter of nature. Those who advocate otherwise do so just to sound being different from the rest, therefore, effectively asking for recognition as being special. The sharp distinction between the sensations associated with winning and losing should be clear enough for anyone - who would prefer being the vaquished to being the winner?
But no one can win all the time. There bounds to be disappointment in life for everyone. There is also the scenario of a draw, when no one wins or loses, or perhaps when winning and losing may not be that clear-cut. It's all just up in the mind after all. But what motivates people to tick remains all the same - the desire to be the winner and feel like one or, at least, to avoid being a loser and feel as such. "Winning and losing" could make an enlightening theme of a story line.
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