ext_38594 ([identity profile] ginzai.livejournal.com) wrote in [personal profile] sistermagpie 2005-05-24 01:20 pm (UTC)

(Is it me, or do people seem to be portrayed as far more fragile than they once were?)

Ooh, that's very true. People on a whole have this need to protect each other from each other. The dichotomy of it is quite interesting to me; we live in an age where children are protected from the grimmer aspects of reality and where the motto isn't "be strong," but instead to "emote" and let it all out. Things which a hundred years ago would have been laughed off are now seen as major offenses - which is almost ironic considering the now lax view on violence and het sex.

I do agree with your main point. Writers, particularly amateur, young writers, tend to want an immediate, splashy problem that is solved through an immediate, splashy solution.

"Oh noes!!1 Raped/Abused/Laughed at in front of the entire school/tortured/broken up with again!!"
*five minutes and a healing conversation/quick romp in the bed later*
"No, wait, I'm better now."

Interesting that you should mention miscarriage though; I've only seen that issue be handled once in an online story, and it wasn't the main point of it. In that case, it was handled delicately, done as a complete surprise, and healing sex neither featured nor would have at all helped - and the story made that clear. All in all, it was a well done description of an attack that traumatized, but did not break, the woman in question. Weirdly, unlike rape and abuse, miscarriage tends to be avoided. Abuse and rape are easy to grasp, grotesque enough to horrify, but it happens enough so that they can understand the concept of it. Miscarriage and murder, on the other hand, seem to be more reserved. Murder tends only to happen to characters who are loathed (in which case, the author's hatred can be expressed in the other characters contempt and indifference) or who rise again as vampires.

I think to an extent this scenario is wishful thinking. Some writers do use such themes for therapeutic reasons, but (I would hope!) most who writer about these matters haven't actually experienced them. It's almost as though they're putting out problems to be resolved that are far bigger and worse than anything they've known, and then following up with a reassuring result. Nothing in their own lives could be as terrible as this, and if these characters' problems are that easily solved, why wouldn't it be even easier for the writers themselves? Because the authors are naive, they don't think the recoveries through; someone raped is healed through a positive sexual experience, someone abused is immediately helped by removal or reform of the abuser, someone depressed is automatically made happy by talking things out with a friend/potential romantic interest.

It's possible just to write it for the drama, and I'll admit to having used the "talking it out" scenario before. Not quite to the extent you mention here, in my case it was wanting to explore certain view points and not even really resolve anything, but I can understand why people would write such things. It's very satisfying to write, if less so to read, and it's very easy to write. None of those pesky long-term issues, just immediate entertainment.

I'll admit too to enjoying well done aspects of what you've mentioned. Placing in abuse or trauma or suffering makes a story darker and grittier, provided that whatever the problem is isn't immediately resolved and shoved under the rug. Fluff is fun, but who really wants to read about the adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Smith as they brush their teeth, walk the dog, eat breakfast, and head to work? It's much more exciting and enjoyable a read to see them in acting out scenes of adventure and excitement, where danger comes to a head and where lives are at stake.

It all comes together. Writers, particularly new ones who haven't considered all of these details, want an interesting, dynamic story that isn't that difficult to actually write. They write of these big, huge problems that must be overcome, and then return things to normalcy through Magic Sex and/or Conversations. Characters become less individual, and far more ever-changing aspects that can express whatever emotion the writer feels the need to have explored.

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