metaorigins and society
Apr. 17th, 2021 11:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marycatelliMetaorigins would affect how superpowers affect society more than anything else except the nature of the powers -- type or strength. And in some respects, it's more important than parts of that.
If governments can make them, that puts power in the hands of the government, tempered by the revolt of the powered. If mad scientists make them, that puts powers in their hands, unless they aren't interested in controlling their powers, just making them -- and if they are, revolt is more likely. If it's the fruit of intensive study of ancient magical papyri, they are probably all associated scholars, with a scholarly character (allowing for variation), and the strength and formality of their association will affect the consequences, and their negotiating strength with other bodies.
If there's events that cause everyone in the area to gain powers, it will matter a lot whether it's a random collection of shoppers and workers in a mall, a summer camp with some kids and staff who know each other some, and a family reunion of a close-knit family.
Being given powers would drag in all the agenda of the giver, and the pattern of those chosen to receive it.
In some respects, superpowers are important because they are not social in nature; they do not depend on others. But they are still going to have their social aspects.
If governments can make them, that puts power in the hands of the government, tempered by the revolt of the powered. If mad scientists make them, that puts powers in their hands, unless they aren't interested in controlling their powers, just making them -- and if they are, revolt is more likely. If it's the fruit of intensive study of ancient magical papyri, they are probably all associated scholars, with a scholarly character (allowing for variation), and the strength and formality of their association will affect the consequences, and their negotiating strength with other bodies.
If there's events that cause everyone in the area to gain powers, it will matter a lot whether it's a random collection of shoppers and workers in a mall, a summer camp with some kids and staff who know each other some, and a family reunion of a close-knit family.
Being given powers would drag in all the agenda of the giver, and the pattern of those chosen to receive it.
In some respects, superpowers are important because they are not social in nature; they do not depend on others. But they are still going to have their social aspects.