Nostalgia

Close your eyes and think about “the good old days.” Notice something? They’re sun-dappled. Slightly blurry. Emotionally warm. The music is just right. The colors are saturated but gentle. Now ask yourself: Did it really look like that? Or does memory edit with a generous hand? Nostalgia is one of the most powerful narrative engines in storytelling. It’s also one of the trickiest—because the past we’re nostalgic for often never existed. ...

You’ve never grown a tomato. You’ve never milked a cow. You’ve never lived without high-speed internet or same-day delivery. And yet, you’re spending 100 hours in Stardew Valley living a life you’ve never experienced and probably never will. Why? Because the pastoral fantasy isn’t about actual rural life. It’s about what we imagine rural life represents: simplicity, authenticity, connection, and escape from the alienation of modern existence. Let’s dissect why the idealized countryside has such narrative power—and what we’re really longing for. ...