Nostalgia, prequels, and the origin of origins

The word "origin" originates (heh) from the Latin word “oriri” which means, “to rise," as in: bread, Jesus, and my blood pressure. Humankind has a long-standing—if not pathological—fascination with origins. Luckily for us, with a multitude of storytelling mediums at our fingertips, this desire for explanation and "safe surprises" influences the contemporary tales we are drawn to, the IPs we entertain at our own peril, and how we connect with people at the proverbial "water cooler" through shared pop-cultural experience.

No better way to kick off Lore of the Things, a podcast about the lore of things, than with an exploration about why human psychology is drawn to origin stories in TV and film, and the role nostalgia plays in our pop culture consumer choices. And besides: what are origins if not lore, and what is lore if not an origin? Yeah baby!

Show notes and references:

• Speaking of Psychology: Does nostalgia have a psychological purpose? With Krystine Batcho, PhD
• Pew Research Center: What’s new with you? What Americans talk about with family and friends
• IndieWire: TV’s IP Problem: How Reboots, Spinoffs, and Blockbuster Franchises Could Shape the Future
• Hollywood Reporter: Why Hollywood Is in the Throes of an IP Frenzy

Lore of the Things is produced, hosted, and blood/sweat/tear'd over by Rebecka Green. Find her on Instagram @rebecka_green and email [e-mail] with compliments and complaints.

Opening and closing music is "Magical Journey" by Geoff Harvey, and podcast artwork is by Levi Åhlén, @oloflevi, featuring Terry O'Quinn's portrayal of John Locke in the pilot episode of LOST.