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On Writing Horrible Human Beings
Feb. 19th, 2010 01:07 amA question I've been considering for some time: how do you write flawed heroes, anti-heroes and villain protagonists without sounding as if you endorse them? In particular, how do you write characters who hold opinions and values that are utterly appalling by contemporary standards?*
It's fine line. You don't want to present their opinions too uncritically, and you don't want to make excuses for them, but at the same time you don't want to patronise your audience by making all the characters you don't agree with into puppy-kicking caricatures.
I guess part of the question I'm asking here would be: is there anything you can do to prevent/minimise the Misaimed Fandom problem?
( Cut for spoilers for Watchmen, Life on Mars and Dollhouse )
*sparked off partially by wanting to write WH40K fic, and partly by this discussion here on "ironic" racism - I didn't want to hijack that discussion, so I've taken these issues over here.
It's fine line. You don't want to present their opinions too uncritically, and you don't want to make excuses for them, but at the same time you don't want to patronise your audience by making all the characters you don't agree with into puppy-kicking caricatures.
I guess part of the question I'm asking here would be: is there anything you can do to prevent/minimise the Misaimed Fandom problem?
( Cut for spoilers for Watchmen, Life on Mars and Dollhouse )
*sparked off partially by wanting to write WH40K fic, and partly by this discussion here on "ironic" racism - I didn't want to hijack that discussion, so I've taken these issues over here.
