Such a fascinating post. As you know, I write and talk a lot about mothering, literature, and creativity, but fathering isn't something that I have ever really looked at in depth. Some great links to check out - thanks!
Also, while not directly about fatherhood, there are a lot of great sitcom dads out there like Phil Dunphy (Modern Family) or Red Foreman (That 70s Show) who give something to aspire to.
I'll be interested to see whether contributors to the comments see the role of "parent" as significantly different for mothers and fathers. Obviously some differences are inescapable, but are most perceived differences cultural? I think your subtitle really covers the enormity of the subject and exploring it through literature is a good way to tackle it.
Thanks for the quote from my piece about The Godfather. I think we make a lot of the same points, this was a fascinating read and it was interesting to see those ideas in a different context!
My son is 18, and I’m 57. I’ve talked to some friends about this, and my anecdotal impression is that lots of dads from my era are trying to find ways to be fathers that are better than what our dads and grandfathers etc. brought to it. I loved my dad, and I don’t hold it against him that his parental skills weren’t perfect; he did his best given his role models. But I’m definitely trying to break the cycle of behavior I think was unhealthy.
I’m not sure how much my wife and I have conformed to tradition or “norms,” regarding the jobs of father or mother. We’ve mostly tried to make it a partnership, and we’ve divided up the job based on our family and who we are as people, rather than arbitrary ideas about what a mom should do and what a dad should do.
Ironically, it never occurred to me how much 'the Godfather' was about fatherhood until I read this. Very interesting. Have you seen the TV series LOST? That show regularly used fatherhood and daddy issues for its plotting, with most of the main characters being defined by their difficult relationships with their fathers.
""Carlton Cuse’s response was to the point: ”I don’t think there is anything more powerful in film than father-son relationships, maybe even in literature, too.”"
Laertes always intrigued me. His last action is to forgive and absolve with Hamlet. I don't think Polonius could have ever been capable of such a thing—Laertes was the only one truly different from his father, but he still fell to the same man.
Anywho, Succession did a great job with its paternal figure as well. Great piece.
Such a fascinating post. As you know, I write and talk a lot about mothering, literature, and creativity, but fathering isn't something that I have ever really looked at in depth. Some great links to check out - thanks!
I recently wrote a short story on the theme of fatherhood in Star Wars: https://blog.pornnamepseudonym.com/p/put-the-force-back-in-the-fourth
Also, while not directly about fatherhood, there are a lot of great sitcom dads out there like Phil Dunphy (Modern Family) or Red Foreman (That 70s Show) who give something to aspire to.
I'll be interested to see whether contributors to the comments see the role of "parent" as significantly different for mothers and fathers. Obviously some differences are inescapable, but are most perceived differences cultural? I think your subtitle really covers the enormity of the subject and exploring it through literature is a good way to tackle it.
Thanks for the quote from my piece about The Godfather. I think we make a lot of the same points, this was a fascinating read and it was interesting to see those ideas in a different context!
Thanks for the shout out! Love the recommendations here - especially Between the World and me, and also the George Saunders. Great discussion!
My son is 18, and I’m 57. I’ve talked to some friends about this, and my anecdotal impression is that lots of dads from my era are trying to find ways to be fathers that are better than what our dads and grandfathers etc. brought to it. I loved my dad, and I don’t hold it against him that his parental skills weren’t perfect; he did his best given his role models. But I’m definitely trying to break the cycle of behavior I think was unhealthy.
I’m not sure how much my wife and I have conformed to tradition or “norms,” regarding the jobs of father or mother. We’ve mostly tried to make it a partnership, and we’ve divided up the job based on our family and who we are as people, rather than arbitrary ideas about what a mom should do and what a dad should do.
Ironically, it never occurred to me how much 'the Godfather' was about fatherhood until I read this. Very interesting. Have you seen the TV series LOST? That show regularly used fatherhood and daddy issues for its plotting, with most of the main characters being defined by their difficult relationships with their fathers.
It got to the point where the showrunners were even asked about it by Entertainment Weekly. (https://ew.com/article/2007/05/16/lost-s3-more-bad-father-theories/)
""Carlton Cuse’s response was to the point: ”I don’t think there is anything more powerful in film than father-son relationships, maybe even in literature, too.”"
Laertes always intrigued me. His last action is to forgive and absolve with Hamlet. I don't think Polonius could have ever been capable of such a thing—Laertes was the only one truly different from his father, but he still fell to the same man.
Anywho, Succession did a great job with its paternal figure as well. Great piece.