Interesting Discussion

[handful_ofdust]

...going on over here (http://samsykes.com/2011/01/the-chosen-jerk-jam-session-with-n-k-jemisin/). I guess I’ll just never be comfortable with the idea that we should proactively shit on a particular type of narrative trope because it’s inherently evil, and thus the people who like it (who are obviously too effin’ dumb to figure that out) are bad and should feel bad, anymore than I like any other type of received wisdom. Thankfully, though, I also don’t think I’ve been guilty of this; most of my characters are anti-heroes at best who don't think of themselves as automatically qualified to “save” much of much, plus the fact that there’s an overall lack of authority figures of any sort in my world(s) who aren’t assholes, on some level.

I mean, “[Anasazi]” is sort of a Chosen One story turned inside out--ie, this slot could have been filled by anyone, it became yours through horrible bad luck, and now everything you know and love will be destroyed because of it/you. But then again, I do write horror, so perhaps for me, the relevant trope is “Chosen Monster” instead.;)

Comments

[baggyeyes]

I think they just want a cause to fight for. They probably do go out and do what they can to effect change in the world; after a while, everything looks like a valid target.

I could be wrong.

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

There's something to be said for the idea that propaganda being disseminated through entertainment is an inherently negative concept, I guess, but...the idea that reading about Harry Potter and the Pevensies breeds a generation of stupes waiting around to get "saved" by some duly-elected saviour seems reeeallly reaching. Sort of like the idea that kids will read Phillip Pullman and immediately start hating on God; he's not that good a writer, sadly.

[sixteenbynine.livejournal.com]

Their idea, as much as I can discern it, is not that they're waiting to be saved so much as that the more they see the same patterns reified outside themselves the less likely they are to seek out something different for its own sake.

Which is probably true, but it doesn't make the policing of other peoples' fantasies any less mean-spirited and crass. (And, as you mentioned, joyless.)