these days, people want this modern concept of realism; one that involves death, bad endings, 'dark' and depressing stuff, and ugliness all around. Cynicism and pessimism and 'snarkiness' is seen as realism, while optimism and happiness is associated with idealism. And it gets really frustrating.

I also wish this mode of creative thought would, excuse the colloquialism, DIE IN A FIRE. A, uh, deep meaningful fire. :P

I love me a good ol' dark story full of death and decay and failure and all that, but I have a hard time seeing the value in a work of fiction if it's only goal is to promote empty nihilism. That's not to say that every story should be about hope, but hope is a part of the human experience too.