SODOM & GOMORRAH: Amidst my conspiracy for world domination and right wing restoration, I sometimes play video games. Sometimes.
The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time is, perhaps, the first 3D Zelda game. Made for the Nintendo 64, an ancient behemoth of a gaming system (it uses cartridges, gasp!), the storyline follows Link as he does what Link is wont to do. He must rescue Princess Zelda, defeat the evil Ganondorf, and save Hyrule from certain destruction. In the first half, Link is a child and must collect the three spiritual stones for the Princess, after which he must go to the Temple of Time to unleash the legendary Triforce so that Ganondorf may be defeated. But Link is fooled and Ganondorf takes the powers of the temple for himself while Link is trapped inside for seven years. After seven years, and in the second half of the game, Link must awaken seven sages who will unleash even greater mystical powers to seal away Ganondorf.
So aside from me reliving the past by playing the game once more, what can we learn about politics?
- The forces of evil stand for chaos. Likewise, the forces of good stand for order. Ganondorf brings evil and disorder to Hyrule. The hero must combat the disorder, which manifests itself as disrupted prosperity, chaotic natural events, etc. Whether it’s Goron Mountain losing its supply of food or Zora’s Domain freezing over, chaos reigns supreme when evil takes over.
- The hero’s task is to restore order. Link must restore order and when he defeats various manifestations of evil, things are restored to their previous state. There is no progressive ideology in Zelda; things are set to what they once were.
- Artistic and cultural development occur with the side of good, not evil. The culture from which Gandondorf emerges is built on thievery and deceit. That of Hyrule produces the magic and music that enables Link to fight evil. He Hyrulean culture builds tools that aid the hero in his attempts to restore order. As it is with the forces of the Right as they use the tools of traditional culture to fight the forces of disorder that threaten their lives.