It's the reverse from back in the day. It's amazing how many people thought they were missing something with the "black bars" on letterboxed films. I want to see the whole picture as it was intended to be viewed.

...might feel new & fresh to someone that hasn't seen decades of material in the genre, I feel a little defeated. However, when I see that so many things I loved growing up were completely derivative of other things I was unaware of, it makes me wonder if I should not give up hope on these stories?

I have so many stories, some decades old, that I haven't put to paper or posted, but to me it feels like the time for them has gone. I've seen so many other stories, some similar/some not, but it still feels like they beat me to the punch and rendered my story moot. While I'm sure the story...

They see their art as derivative, feel like everything has been done before, and are less enthusiastic about it. Then try to put a heavy deeper meaning into their work, sacrificing the fun and grandeur. A slow pace and a heavy handed message. It becomes a disconnect from the artists earlier works.