Anti-Heroism, Post-Heroism

A pre-written thing that was meant to be improvised

Feb 09, 2024

∙ Paid

Visualize a powerful transformation story, depicted through a split image. On one side, show a young boy dressed as a superhero, standing confidently with a cape and mask, surrounded by words like 'GENIUS', 'DESTINED', and 'HERO' in bold, floating letters, embodying the immense expectations and identity of being a precocious, intelligent child destined for greatness. The other side contrasts sharply, portraying the same person as an adult, shedding the superhero costume, sitting calmly with a book in a serene, natural setting, symbolizing a journey towards self-acceptance and the realization of personal worth beyond achievements. The transition between these two halves should subtly represent a path from turmoil to peace, with elements like a broken superhero mask on the ground, a bottle symbolizing the struggle with drinking, and eventually, a sober token or a peaceful symbol like a butterfly or a blooming flower, indicating recovery and a new beginning. The background should gradually change from a chaotic, stormy sky on the superhero side to a clear, sunny sky on the natural side, reflecting the internal shift from pressure to liberation.

I attended and performed at my very first ‘Orlando Story Club’ recently. I came prepared to tell a story on the theme, “Anti-Hero” - if I had attended any of the events previously I would have known that I was meant to tell a story more or less off the cuff, but instead I stood up there and recited the whole thing below off of an iPad. Nobody tackled me…

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