Too often when I hear people say that this or that story is actually really good, they always, always point to the themes in it.
Me: “I’ve heard some mixed reviews of this series. Why do you like it so much?”
Them: “The themes man, oh my god, the themes!”
Me: “Do you think that it’s enteraining?”
Them: “The themes and the messages are so good.”
Me: “That’s not what I’m asking you, what I mean is-”
Them: “ZOMG the themes!”
Don’t think that I am exaggerating here, because I’m really not. I’ve been told to my face that Lana Del Rey’s music is good because of the themes it explores. Not because of the song writing, production, or her actual singing talent, but the themes.
Just having good themes isn’t enough to make popular art, much less great art. There is a reason why you people know who Lana Del Rey is and not Orden Ogan. There is also a reason why Avatar the Last Airbender is taken seriously by video essayists on youtube but Dragonball Z isn’t outside of its own fandom. And it isn’t simply about what themes are in the serieses.
Personally I love themes, but yeah, that’s just in books. As far as TV shows, anime, comics, games, songs or other stuff, ffs what difference do themes make? It’s more enjoyable if all the meaning is just right there on the surface, imho. ¯\_(ﭢ)_/¯
I think, in terms of TV shows, movies, and music, as examples you used, yes, themes are not the only thing that make those good. Likewise, books have many more aspects too: characters, quality of writing and editing, cover art, plot structure, and more. But, I think themes play a bigger role in books than it might TV and movies. The latter have visuals and special effects that can make people overlook a lack of theme. That’s why cover art is deemed so vital. It’s a visual representation of a theme or scene from the book.
But we don’t have that in books otherwise. Readers read the words and imagine what they’re seeing - so yes, I believe a strong theme is important in books. Themes aren’t just about morals. They can play on symbolisms, colours, and more to create a visual for books. Themes can play on anything from types of flowers and their meanings, to revealing a character’s personality. For example, I am writing a mystery series focusing on female serial killers. I use the killer in each case to show a bit more of my MC’s (a criminal profiler) personality and why she is the way she is. It becomes a theme mirroring her and the killer. I use a lot of flower symbolism and meaning to support the theme - for example, having tansies show up at a crime scene where someone was buried alive. Tansies have several meanings, but one of them is a declaration of war, as this specific killer was doing on her victims.
Idk, I love using different book elements to mix with themes and play with it. It doesn’t have to be overrated. Maybe when people focus on theme, they see the other aspects and don’t know how to explain it, other than the overall theme impacted them somehow. Keep in mind, not everyone knows what all goes into creating a story, or all the jargon we writers use, so sometimes themes are the only way they can put it into words.
I agree with you part way, but as a visual person I think visual mediums can and should have well-developed themes, but they shouldn’t be the primary thing you reccomend a story on.
Themes lend a deeper sense of resonance to a story that basic worldbuilding or relatable but ultimately disjointed character moments can’t achieve. You’re right that a story can’t stand on its own with themes alone, but neither can it stand alone with only a great plot or only relatable characters. Themes, plot and characters are a trio; you can get away with using only two, but you’ll engage readers more deeply by implementing all three. Done well, of course.
As for why people seem to focus so much on theme over other elements when asked for their opinions, my guess would be because grander themes can feel “life changing” or at least perspective altering. But that’s just conjecture–I don’t hang out with other writers, so theme doesn’t often come up among my friends.
