Tortall and Colonialism

Jul 12, 2009 20:03

As any reader of the Tortall books knows, the discussion of race, colonialism, and imperialism improves as TP herself grows and improves as a writer. One drawback of published work is that you are stuck with your early mistakes, so the somewhat simplistic world-building of early Tortall ‘verse could not be scrapped as TP’s ideas clearly became more ( Read more... )

idle fic ideas, tortall, fandom rambling

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anait July 21 2009, 03:35:40 UTC
Sorry for the delayed reply! I've been away for a few days.

creating canon-in-my-head and forgetting to separate it from actual canon.
Yes, I do this all the time. It's fun! (But confusing, when I realize that the things that I made up are not actual canon details).

But because she does give us these throwaway non-white characters at all (who is there in the early books beyond the token Bazhir?) and at least provides a hint of backstory, it spawns amazing fic.

Hmm. I've read the story you linked to, and it is very imaginative. I liked it a lot. I appreciate the fanfic that takes the non-Tortallan countries and characters and builds on them creatively wrt culture and worldview, but it is kind of rare. Heather, Hanakazari/Skyscope, Trisana McGraw and Picassini are all writers who do this well. I wish there were more!

The Alanna and Daine books actually had a lot of non-white characters and cultures that played a not-so-minor role. The Bazhir, for sure, in the third Alanna book, but also the K'miri and the Doi in the fourth Alanna book, and the Carthaki characters in third Daine book. Thayet, Buri, Onua, Ozorne and Kaddar are all major characters of colour, but mostly fanfic writers tend to write them as TP did. It is hard to find stories that write them as characters with a distinctly non-Tortallan culture and worldview. I think that this is one of TP's weakest points as an author. I have yet to read a character by her that was convincingly from a culture that wasn't like hers (ie. Tortallan). She relies on outer trappings to signify cultural differences, and she doesn't build from the interior out. I think that she is trying really hard with her character Beka to write someone from a foreign world but, again, Beka is still white. This is why I get really excited when I read fanfic that can do non-Tortallan cultures or characters convincingly. Please write your story!

the fact that it's set (possibly?) after Jon's reign which would allow a critique of it without perhaps utterly trashing him as a character.
My favourite kind of Jon story to write is one which makes fun of him for being a jerk, while also appreciating that's he's kind of a good guy in his way. He's an interesting character, that's for sure.

I think that Roald will fail or succeed based on his character and policies, and the luck of the draw wrt the major events of his era. Roald and Shinko seem like they are less likely to rock the boat in matters of policy, and maybe the kingdom needs some time to recover from all the changes that Thayet and Jonathan have made. It could be a reign of consolidation and gradual moving forward on the path that Thayet and Jonathan laid out, if Roald and Shinko are so lucky as to get a peaceful time.

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spheralunaris July 21 2009, 17:07:26 UTC
I feel like Onua is just waiting for a good fic to be written about her, well all of the Saren characters really and I agree--the potential is there but not very many fic when you start looking (maybe Goldenlake needs to promote an "immigration/emigration" drabble series--I think the concept applies to just about every single character in Tortall 'verse including the main cast!)

re: Jon--this is just my problem. As soon as I start thinking about colonialism and appropriation and the Bazhir I cannnot *cannot* like Jon in the insufferable sort of way I usually do and I think this is why for the longest time I haven't wanted to think about it and just wanted the books to be "fun".

building characters from the inside out Yes. Damn, you make me want to write this fic. I seem to keep having my own TP plotbunnies sicced on me lately!

First this quote about education for girls in Afghanistan:

"When a girl learns how to read and write, one of the first things she does is teach her own mother. The girls will bring home meat and veggies, wrapped in newspapers, and the mother will ask the girl to read the newspaper to her and the mothers will learn about politics and about women who are exploited.” --Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/opinion/19friedman.html)

made me want to write a Tortall fic about mothers and daughters and literacy which through the goading of a friend keeps growing into a larger idea and becoming more enticing to write (Kalasin, Thayet, Kalasin and building schools, memories of Sarain, Tortall)and now you're pushing for this Bazhir plotubunny so eloquently I'm itching to dig up my Alanna books and start researching!

I cry foul (or at least demand to be repaid with a fic in kind--I look forward to your Bazhair fic)!

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anait July 21 2009, 23:03:44 UTC
maybe Goldenlake needs to promote an "immigration/emigration" drabble series--I think the concept applies to just about every single character in Tortall 'verse including the main cast!
Cool idea! I think that writers in this fandom who are so creative are unused (for the most part? There are always exceptions.) to stretching their imaginations in this direction. It would be great to see more writers that strive to do this while telling the stories they want to tell. There are other kinds of stories that I think this fandom has yet to produce as well. I have A List. ;)

I agree about Jon. It is hard to really look at the books and think about his actions in these terms. They are pretty appalling. There is room for a story that takes on the consequences of his rule in a critical way, but I don't think I want to be the one to write it. :(

The quote about female literacy in Afghanistan is very powerful.

made me want to write a Tortall fic about mothers and daughters and literacy (Kalasin, Thayet, Kalasin and building schools, memories of Sarain, Tortall)
Um, YES PLZ!! I would eat this up. Are you thinking that the story of the Bazhir girl, who possibly attends the local University, will also incorporate the Saren angle (awesome!!), or would they be two separate stories (also awesome!!).

I cry foul (or at least demand to be repaid with a fic in kind--I look forward to your Bazhair fic)!
Ahaha! I will do my best. I have to do some reading first, in order to write about desert life with anything other than second-hand generalizations and stereotypes. It could be a while.

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