Overly helpful universes, badassery, and James Bond
While I've been unpacking, I've been watching James Bond movies. Yes, yes, pretty much everything is wrong with Bond, but damn if those movies don't really, really appeal to my inner sixteen year old. I mean, who wouldn't want to be a universally desirable, impossibly competent, completely awesome, always successful superspy who knows how to do everything and routinely saves the world while traveling to exotic locations and sleeping with incredibly attractive people (who occasionally try to kill you) and never have to worry about STDs or pregnancy? I believe they call that kind of thing id-fic. And my id wants to be James Bond.
But, despite the fact that I've been unpacking and engaging in complete id-fic fantasy here, I couldn't help noticing two things. My brain, it does not ever completely shut off, apparently! One thing that struck me was that the women in at least the Pierce Brosnan Bond flicks all speak in a particular way - there's this odd, soft quality to their voices, and I'm pretty sure that the actresses don't always sound like that (and I should note that M doesn't speak that way). I think I've discovered non-protagonist-woman voice or something. I must watch for it in other movies. Er, listen for it. I strongly suspect it's not a Bond-only phenomenon.
The other thing I noticed is how much the narrative looks out for Bond. I mean, to a ridiculous degree. We're not just talking typical Plot Armor and Laws of Narrative Causality here, we're talking about protection from ever screwing up. Probably the most egregious example was when Bond was playing around with the spy gadgets in Michelle Yeoh's character's hideout in Tomorrow Never Dies. Oh, sure, he sets stuff off, but he manages to neither hurt himself (or her) nor look stupid. My suspension of disbelief wants a word with the script.
Which was when I realized why I can't write characters like Bond. Or play them. I believe wholeheartedly in Plot Armor and Laws of Narrative Causality, but I do not believe in Plot Armor that protects you from ever messing up or looking stupid or from people getting the drop on you or whatever. Plot Armor is supposed to keep you alive because you are the hero, not ensure that you always look cool. That's just silly. (Says the person binging on Bond movies.)
And yes, I'm exaggerating. Slightly. But the universe does seem to warp around Mr. Bond to a degree I'm not sure I've seen anywhere else. Sure, in Die Another Day, he gets captured and tortured for over a year (over a year, WTF? how is he still in one piece!?), and yet, he's some how fit enough to escape from his own people after the hostage trade. Yes, I'm totally sure the North Koreans make sure their prisoners get superb medical care in between the torture sessions. Probably personal trainers, too. It's the only way the story makes sense! That or Bond is actually superhuman. (Would explain how he knows how to do everything. And I do mean everything.)
I was going somewhere with this. I have no idea where that was.
Oh!
Half of why fictional badasses are badasses is because the universe lets them be badasses. I'm incapable of writing a universe that's so kind and helpful. My sadistic sense of humor, basic logic, and desire for consistency all get in the way. I can enjoy fiction that involves universes that warp around the badass to make sure he (and it always is he, isn't it) is 100% badass 100% of the time. Or at least 99% of the time. But I can't write it.
I don't want characters to get punished by the universe for doing what they want to do, either (which is why I hate the vast majority of fiction with female main characters - they're just never allowed to have fun the way male characters are and the universes generally go out of their way to harm them). I just want the universe to be a bit more uncooperative than James Bond's universe.
And now to return to the unpacking and movie watching. So that I can get back to writing! About people who only wish the universe would so helpfully bend to their wishes. *side-eyes own fanfic* I think I've come closer to stealing the pain-powered Narrativium of nuTrek. Oh dear.
This entry was originally posted at http://smurasaki.dreamwidth.org/120866.html.
But, despite the fact that I've been unpacking and engaging in complete id-fic fantasy here, I couldn't help noticing two things. My brain, it does not ever completely shut off, apparently! One thing that struck me was that the women in at least the Pierce Brosnan Bond flicks all speak in a particular way - there's this odd, soft quality to their voices, and I'm pretty sure that the actresses don't always sound like that (and I should note that M doesn't speak that way). I think I've discovered non-protagonist-woman voice or something. I must watch for it in other movies. Er, listen for it. I strongly suspect it's not a Bond-only phenomenon.
The other thing I noticed is how much the narrative looks out for Bond. I mean, to a ridiculous degree. We're not just talking typical Plot Armor and Laws of Narrative Causality here, we're talking about protection from ever screwing up. Probably the most egregious example was when Bond was playing around with the spy gadgets in Michelle Yeoh's character's hideout in Tomorrow Never Dies. Oh, sure, he sets stuff off, but he manages to neither hurt himself (or her) nor look stupid. My suspension of disbelief wants a word with the script.
Which was when I realized why I can't write characters like Bond. Or play them. I believe wholeheartedly in Plot Armor and Laws of Narrative Causality, but I do not believe in Plot Armor that protects you from ever messing up or looking stupid or from people getting the drop on you or whatever. Plot Armor is supposed to keep you alive because you are the hero, not ensure that you always look cool. That's just silly. (Says the person binging on Bond movies.)
And yes, I'm exaggerating. Slightly. But the universe does seem to warp around Mr. Bond to a degree I'm not sure I've seen anywhere else. Sure, in Die Another Day, he gets captured and tortured for over a year (over a year, WTF? how is he still in one piece!?), and yet, he's some how fit enough to escape from his own people after the hostage trade. Yes, I'm totally sure the North Koreans make sure their prisoners get superb medical care in between the torture sessions. Probably personal trainers, too. It's the only way the story makes sense! That or Bond is actually superhuman. (Would explain how he knows how to do everything. And I do mean everything.)
I was going somewhere with this. I have no idea where that was.
Oh!
Half of why fictional badasses are badasses is because the universe lets them be badasses. I'm incapable of writing a universe that's so kind and helpful. My sadistic sense of humor, basic logic, and desire for consistency all get in the way. I can enjoy fiction that involves universes that warp around the badass to make sure he (and it always is he, isn't it) is 100% badass 100% of the time. Or at least 99% of the time. But I can't write it.
I don't want characters to get punished by the universe for doing what they want to do, either (which is why I hate the vast majority of fiction with female main characters - they're just never allowed to have fun the way male characters are and the universes generally go out of their way to harm them). I just want the universe to be a bit more uncooperative than James Bond's universe.
And now to return to the unpacking and movie watching. So that I can get back to writing! About people who only wish the universe would so helpfully bend to their wishes. *side-eyes own fanfic* I think I've come closer to stealing the pain-powered Narrativium of nuTrek. Oh dear.
This entry was originally posted at http://smurasaki.dreamwidth.org/120866.html.