Expending considerable energy on reconstructing something that already exists in canon is, to me, the entire point of writing an AU.
I see - I suppose that's just something that doesn't appeal to me, then.
But at the same time I reject, fundamentally, that one's culture and experiences ARE who one is rather than SHAPE who one is. I do feel there is a me, inside, that reacts to what is going on but there is a kernel of self that remains.
I do agree with you on that, but with fictional characters, I'm not sure how recognisable they still will be - mostly because different readers won't necessarily agree on which part exactly is at the core of that character's self.
Heck, ST:XI itself plays with that idea rather freely, showing that even if Kirk grew up without a dad and very rebellious, he still inherently has qualities that make him a good leader, a good captain.
Considering I loved TOS!Kirk but utterly loathe new!Kirk, I would respectfully disagree. *g*
I take your point about the othering of aliens, but on the other hand I generally find humanisation in the sense of "everyone is just like us at the core, and they should act more like us" no better, regardless who "us" happens to be. (I'd agree about Spock's story being a story of assimilation, but there are two different cultures trying to assimilate him, and I find both equally as problematic.)
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Date: 2009-11-19 02:03 pm (UTC)I see - I suppose that's just something that doesn't appeal to me, then.
But at the same time I reject, fundamentally, that one's culture and experiences ARE who one is rather than SHAPE who one is. I do feel there is a me, inside, that reacts to what is going on but there is a kernel of self that remains.
I do agree with you on that, but with fictional characters, I'm not sure how recognisable they still will be - mostly because different readers won't necessarily agree on which part exactly is at the core of that character's self.
Heck, ST:XI itself plays with that idea rather freely, showing that even if Kirk grew up without a dad and very rebellious, he still inherently has qualities that make him a good leader, a good captain.
Considering I loved TOS!Kirk but utterly loathe new!Kirk, I would respectfully disagree. *g*
I take your point about the othering of aliens, but on the other hand I generally find humanisation in the sense of "everyone is just like us at the core, and they should act more like us" no better, regardless who "us" happens to be. (I'd agree about Spock's story being a story of assimilation, but there are two different cultures trying to assimilate him, and I find both equally as problematic.)