Random thought of the day: is comic fanfic less interesting than angst?

[teasel]

There's a terrific children's book by James Thurber called The Thirteen Clocks, unfortunately now long out of print, which includes among its many wonders a character whose tears turn into jewels. A useful and valuable trait, and one that would make the production of angst fics such a vital contribution to the gross national product that fanfic

Comments

[not_yet_tamed]

sorry, i just wanted to say that your icon is really cute and that it made me almost squee. <3

[teasel]

Awwww, I think the pic is cute too. People who actually know something about badgers tell me that they can be vicious creatures, but I rejoice in the urban ignorance of nature that allows me to think they're adorable. *pets the icon*

[sistermagpie]

This is a big question for me because even growing up I preferred to read angst, but as a writer I tend to do comedy, period. So I often feel like I write things I wouldn't actually read. Hmm

[teasel]

even growing up I preferred to read angst, but as a writer I tend to do comedy, period. So I often feel like I write things I wouldn't actually read.

That's really interesting -- sometimes the inner reader and the inner writer just don't seem to be on the same page (sorry), do they? I've always loved to read comedy, but the books that have most tinkered with who I am have always been the ones that made me cry for one reason or another -- LotR being one of them.

tears of laughter are more a by-product, and that this is how they aren't "earned" the same way? You know, the story gives me that feeling too, as if the tears of laughter are unearned somehow. In the book, the character (Hagga) is given the ability to have her tears turn to jewels by a king whose foot is caught in a wolf trap. He is oddly afraid of being ludicrous in this situation, and sure enough just as Hagga was freeing him, a passing farmer laughed at him. The king was ticked and amended his gift so that tears of laughter would melt away after a footnote

[elwenlj]

Hmmmmmmm. I think that a lot of the reason for writing angst rather than humour is that good humour is actualy more difficult to set down in print. At least in my case.

I am a real angst maven. The only thread that connects all my writing is angst. Even when I try to write something lighter I find that I cannot for the life of me resist adding just a drop of angst.

Maybe it's as simple as that? Angst is easier to write effectively.

[teasel]

Even when I try to write something lighter I find that I cannot for the life of me resist adding just a drop of angst.You know, that's such an interesting way to put it. I usually am the opposite -- no matter what I'm supposed to be doing I can't stop myself from making jokes. This is one reason I can't write sex scenes to save my soul -- I have to battle this continual urge to introduce banana peels and rubber chickens, and no, not as sex toys, either. But my experience isn't so distant from yours as you might think -- in both cases it's a compulsion. I don't know about you, but to me it seems my tendency to write comedy sometimes seems at odds with the story I'm tring to tell, and I have to reign in it. It seems like an easy path at times when I really should be trying something that is harder for me personally

[willow_wode]

Okay, is this what happens when we talk about the pain in laughter and the horror/bliss of connectiveness until the wee sma's? ;)

If so, I'm for it. This is no laundry list, my dear. Whew! What a thought-provoking this for early morning. *said as she props her eyes open and gets ready to assail angst--because some of us suck at comedy!*

Seriously, though, I do admire people such as you who can do such to-die-for witty repartee, who can wriggle gleefully in the throes of comedic sharpness.

I don't think comedy is any less a form than angst--I think in many ways it brings a bravery TO the angst.

[teasel]

Hee, yes, this was very much inspired by our discussion the other night.

I don't think comedy is any less a form than angst--I think in many ways it brings a bravery TO the angst.

That's an interesting thought! I guess it depends on where the laughter is directed, doesn't it. If it's directed AT a suffering person, then the comedy is cruel; if the suffereing person laughs at her own situation, then you can say it's bravery and balance (or you could say it's a weird form of sublimated agression against yourself). In any case yes, I think we do need the comic perspective or we'd all go crazy -- the question is whether there might be a lack of empathy at its core than can make it dangerous to indulge in overmuch.

[rubynye]

These are very interesting questions. I don't know quite yet what I think of it, but it has got me thinking.

[teasel]

Thanks! Glad it gave you food for thought. (Loved your drabble, by the way!)