The health of the fish is given by the water
Healthy water, healthy fish; dirty water, dead fish
Human beings do best when tending to their water
(and most only tend to themselves)
'Water' for human beings takes many forms
This series is about tending to those many forms of water
1. City/Town/Village - Moral Landscape
As social beings, you and I live by moral codes; a set of fabricated (yet very real) rules that dictate what is good or bad, right or wrong.
The power of the 'moral landscape' is powerfully illustrated by John Truby in his education on screen writing.
In his classes he uses the movie "Its a Wonderful Life" to illustrate. George Bailey, from the TownScape gives up his dreams to save the Baily Savings & Loan, make sure his brother succeeds and argues that he has no life and no riches. In the end, he discovers his riches in his relationships.
This is classic TownScape morality. It is a maternal order. A system of that thrives on guilt (Bailey always chooses to give up his dreams for the guilt of being selfish). A system that states that true happiness is about relationships.
Mr. Potter is classic CityScape morality. All for yourself. "Immoral". A system that states that true happiness is about getting as much of the pie for yourself as you can.
We get to see these two scapes played out as characters - and it is obvious which scape is 'better' in the eyes of the Film Makers. In truth, neither are better or worse, good or bad. Both have flaws and benefits and neither is 'The Truth'. You could equally make a film about the poverty and isolation of a townscape vs the excitement and wonder of the city.
The point is that you are not separate from a city, town or village scape and these systems or contexts are forces that shape yours and others actions regardless of your awareness of that fact. Knowing these background moral landscapes are shaping you - vs - you shaping them, is powerful and allows you a choice.
I was brought up Catholic in the townscape of Richardson, TX in a family of eight and spent a good twenty years working on behalf of the benefit of others at a cost to myself. Guilt is my middle name.
John Guilt Patterson
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