"I know it when I see it" does kind of cover it. I think everyone's take on it has to be a little different, informed by their own reading and own experiences.
Trying to tease out 'intent' is inherently problematic. I think maybe the _Wingless_ example helps here. What is the structural purpose of the scene within the story? Is it integral to the arc of the characters?
I think your musing about focus is close, though. What aspects of the scene are dwelt upon, where does the 'camera' linger? Possibly more significantly, where does the scene end, and how?
Your comment about "where the scene ends" reminds me of some young writers I know who will say things like "my rape scene isn't a reinforcement of tropes because the rape victim gets to kill him at the end of the story". I have to restrain myself from saying "that IS a trope. Too."
I don't know. The distinction between "it's prurient" and "it's needed to effectively convey what happened to to tell this story" is a weird and subtle thing,
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Trying to tease out 'intent' is inherently problematic. I think maybe the _Wingless_ example helps here. What is the structural purpose of the scene within the story? Is it integral to the arc of the characters?
I think your musing about focus is close, though. What aspects of the scene are dwelt upon, where does the 'camera' linger? Possibly more significantly, where does the scene end, and how?
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I don't know. The distinction between "it's prurient" and "it's needed to effectively convey what happened to to tell this story" is a weird and subtle thing,
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