When they Thicc · 5:55pm Aug 13th, 2021
Hello everyone,
So, I was browsing the internet the other day, and I came across this interesting conversation:
And it made me curious; I always had a preference for female characters growing up - to the point that if a video game allowed me to choose genders, I would always have my hero be a girl - and I feel it's reflected in my writing, as a vast majority of the OCs I have are women. Yet, at the same time, I've never really considered them in terms of beauty or attractiveness.
Take Shiva, for example. Yeah, a couple of forum threads where I posted how she'd react to situations would touch upon her sex life at some points, and she is often described as a beauty among diamond dogs, but that's not what's really important about her to me. What's important is her personality; her loyalty to family, her strength of character and her willingness to try and show empathy and understanding, while also being equally willing to fight back and defend herself if it comes to violence.
It makes me wonder... if Shiva or any other female OCs I create get fans, but those fans only leave comments about their appearances, should I be flattered or creeped out? I know the internet can be a very... 'eccentric' place (
), but I feel there's far more to Shiva than how 'thicc' she is.
What do you guys think? Did you ever have an OC that only seemed to draw attention due to 'attractiveness?' How did you or how would you handle it?
I appreciate your time, and thank you for all your support.
I just think this is such a interesting thought. I honestly havent published anything yet...but if I go by internet some of my characters would be sexualized. Guranteed...if they popular enough?
Though their alway's is that one guy or. .gal? Or enbe?
Would I be creeped out? Hmm...should you?
I suppose the question is...how important is your vision of character? What if people make fan work's of your novel's? Where do you as the author? Feel your work has been? Tainted? Anne Rice was and is [still alive I believe?] For going after...anyone that wrote in her world...hasbro...
Obviously not...
Then what is boundary between creator or created? Is their a difference? Something shaped you that shaped someone else that shaped someone else? Kind of like waves...so are you a wave or a rock?
You can also ponder? Though it might woolgathering, mind? Weither? Say if someone uses your characters to promote ideologys you dont believe in? [ and yes this has happened]
How much do you want control? Or...perception of control?
Would you go twitter asking folks to not do this or that? Or rant? Further...just something to consider? Who is the audience for the novel? Age and all that? And who if you do do a marketing campign who would that appeal too?
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Again, it all depends on intention. I've seen brilliant fan works before; from amazing music videos to emotionally pleasing fanfictions. And I made these characters with the mindset of sharing them so I wasn't the only one.
So, I don't feel that they'd be 'tainted,' per say, as long as they weren't used for something that went past their ideology.
Which I think you mentioned; and you're right. Characters have been accussed of or been used to promote things that were never part of their... what do you call it... ideals? It's like Harry Potter being accused of promoting Satanism, when it was really just about a school of magic. And honestly, yeah, seeing Shiva get promoted for something like Satanism or Communism or any other 'ism' would really break my heart, because that's not the point to her story.
Her story's all about empathy, and how learning to get along with others can make life so much easier than if we're always at each other's throats. It just wouldn't be right if she was used instead as another way to drive people apart.
But, of course, that leads into what I could possibly do about it:
I really don't like Twitter, and I don't like the stigma that comes from the argument of word/death of the author. Ultimately, I can't control how people perceive a character, even one that I created. I saw this happen with that movie Luca, when the creator tried to clear away the rumors about the main characters being gay. No matter what you say, people are going to stick with what they believe, or what they want to believe.
So, ultimately, no, I wouldn't go on Twitter, and I wouldn't rant about it. But if someone was using Shiva to promote something I didn't agree with, I'd say so. Again, I understand that everyone perceives a character differently. And if someone identified with Shiva through something that wasn't part of my original writing intention, then that's just how they saw the character. But when they use the character as an excuse to hurt or belittle others, that's where I'd put my foot down and voice my disapproval. I may not be able to control how other people react, but I can control how I react. And I believe in an interpretation of Shiva as an encouragement of empathy and understanding with everyone around her. If others can share their opinions in a civilized manner, and be willing to debate instead of argue, then I got no problems. What I will have a problem with is people using my character to bully and belittle anyone who has a different interpretation. There's enough of that in the world, and I don't need to be adding more to it.
I'm intending for the audience to be young adult; from 12 to 16 years of age. Shiva's story has a very 'coming-of-age' vibe that I feel most kids in their formative years would identify with. Though thus far, my marketing campaign has been based primarily on my networking capabilities; I've been telling friends of friends and family, hoping that they'll tell their friends and family, and that it'll spread out from there. We'll see if it works or if I should change up my strategy for something else.
Either way, thanks for responding. I really appreciate when others share their thoughts... as long as those thoughts aren't being used to hurt others, as mentioned above.