A couple weeks ago I wrote an analysis at TGC about the surge in “rise and fall” narratives—particularly in the realm of startups and entrepreneurs. From WeCrashed to The Dropout to The Rise and Fall of LuLaRoe and more, audiences are gobbling up narratives that chronicle the rags-to-riches success, followed by scandalous failure, of once-buzzy entrepreneurs. Why the appeal of these stories? I offer four theories in the article.

I thought about this “failure porn” genre as I watched—and loved—Top Gun: Maverick last week. Whereas the “rise and fall” narratives relish the drama of “pride-comes-before-fall” hubris (Prov. 16:18) and self-inflicted pain, Top Gun is compelling for the opposite reason. It’s a film that celebrates highly talented people at the top of their talents, pushing themselves to the limit (yes, sometimes out of hubris) and actually succeeding in their lofty goals. The characters aren’t perfect and make mistakes in the film, but mostly Top Gun dwells on their unlikely success. And audiences love it. If the “rise and fall” narratives offer caution to young people who are carelessly ambitious and driven, Top Gun: Maverick offers the opposite challenge: be more ambitious and driven, more confident in the limits you can push and the hard things you can accomplish.

Certainly there’s a place for both sorts of narratives: sobering stories of failure that bring us out of the clouds and down to Earth, and inspiring stories of success that (literally) take us to new heights at Mach 10 speed. Our fallen nature is a fact of life. But so is our creativity as image-bearers of the Creator God. It’s important to be aware of our weakness and our propensity to failure, yes. But is it not also important to be willing stewards of our God-given strength and capacity for creative achievement?