Dealing with politically sensitive issues in your Writing

[falafel_musings]

Two things. Firstly I wanted to say there is a Hurley character discussion posted and it's only had two responses so far. Don't forget to show the big guy some love!

Secondly, I wanted some thoughts from my fellow writers on dealing with so-called politically-charged issues in your writing. Things like portrayal of gender, race, sexuality, etc.

Comments

[elliotsmelliot]

Thanks for starting this discussion. I know I’d answer the questions differently if I were discussing original writing where I had full control over character creation. In the world of Lost fic, I find myself struggling with my politics because canon has made a lot of choices I know go against my values. Yet my interest in writing fic is to immerse myself in an existing world, so I don’t go about radically altering existing power structure, but I try to add my own touch

[elliotsmelliot]

Continued because I am on a roll here...

3) What is great about Lost is the multi-cultural characters and how there is a lot of narrative freedom to explore their histories. Because of my academic training, I’m aware of the reliance on racial stereotypes in storytelling, especially in terms of heroes and villains and the trope of power and sacrifice. I try to be conscious about this in my own writing. I also acknowledge that as a white woman from an Anglo-Saxon background, it is those characters who come more naturally for me, and that is probably a reason I choose them most often as protagonists.

I’ve dealt explicitly with racism in From Where We Stand, pre-06 rescue about Jin, Bernard and Sayid, which featured Jin’s dislocation in the English speaking world and how Sayid’s race and country’s history was used to construct a conspiracy story that made him a scapegoat for the 815 crash

[falafel_musings]

Oh, you do such a great job characterising Penny. I think not only do you give her independance, but her mission to find Desmond often has the larger goal of foiling her father and investigating the 815ers. You do a great job with multi-cultural characters too. I love 'From where we Stand' particularly the Sayid strand. I wish I could write Sayid that well.

On one hand Locke’s story is an interesting exploration of challenge and survival, but the fantastical elements that led to and then cured his “don’t tell me what I can’t do” side, detract from the real pain disable men and women would feel in his shoes, so to speak. I do feel Locke's disability story was quite moving in the FBs, but I also feel dubious about the island's magical cure for him, especially when the island "takes away" Locke's ability to walk as a punishment and then heals him again as a reward. The island does a similar thing with Charlie by tempting him with heroin to see if he can resist his addiction. It really makes the island seem like a scary old Testamemt

[elliotsmelliot]

Regarding Locke, I do like his flashbacks too. They have always been among the most compelling ones for me. However, I think how his injury occurred is almost as problematic, in terms of realism, than his healing. The multiple betrayals by Cooper took a great toil on John’s mind and body, and it is this trauma that seems to overshadow the actual paralysis.

The island is fucked-up. It's curses far out weigh its good deeds. I feel Locke should have been more suspicious of its choices by now.

[falafel_musings]

The island is fucked-up. It's curses far out weigh its good deeds. I feel Locke should have been more suspicious of its choices by now.

I think Locke's blind faith in the island is a product of the mystery. The writers don't want anyone to know until the last minute what the island actually IS or why it matters. Characters don't get to really question its choices because they aren't allowed to know the answers.

[bachlava]

You are way too nice to me, as always. ;) And I don't think we have any reason at all to perceive you (or necessarily anyone) as narrow-minded just because you don't write slash. I would say that the kind of writing that seems to attract your muse is writing that is focused on primary issues other than the initiation and development of Relationships of That Nature, whether they're gay, straight, or man-on-hatch. And if same-sex relationships aren't prominent in canon, the only way to do them in fic is to devote significant space to developing Relationships of That Nature. Even if you wrote, say, a lot of NC-17 het, I wouldn't think there was anything narrow-minded about it. I would just think that slash wasn't the kind of pr0n that you were, erm, into writing

[elliotsmelliot]

Man-on-Hatch! Now I have an image of someone, probably Locke, humping the entrance of the hatch. I'll blame you forever!

I think RL trickles into our hobbies, at least for me. For example, I do think the great attention you pay to culture is a choice that reflects a respect for diversity and good research skills. And when I mean political, I don't mean the characters should be active activists or that fic will change the world. (I also don't buy the academic argument that slash is a feminist act of subverting traditional gender roles.) But I do like how you have Jack come to terms with having a relationship with a man. It shows that these characters do not live in a bubble, even when they were on the island. Whatever type of writer you feel you are, I appreciate the realism you put into your stories.

[bachlava]

Whatever type of writer you feel you are

Kittenfic! Kittenfic! Kittenfic!

RL definitely does trickle into our hobbies, you're right. Down to enjoying researching things, just in their own right... You are very kind. ;)