busyThe thing is ... there are people with multiple minority traits. There are gay Asians. There are autistic Pagans. There are poor black lesbians in wheelchairs. And those people sometimes feel overlooked because the stacking effect can change their experiences so much that a single-trait character doesn't feel much like them. I've read essays upholding this end of the debate but couldn't find one to use as an example here.
My stance is that I write characters as they need to be. I have a lot of characters who are female/other trait because roughly half of humanity is female. Other combinations are less common but also appear. Brelig is a normal-sized Duurludirj man (which we'd consider a dwarf) and missing one hand. Maryam Smith is African-British, genderqueer, duoclass, and of illegitimate birth. I'm more likely to focus on minority protagonists than to use them as filler, something my audience seems to enjoy if you look over what's been published. I don't tend to write a lot of straight white Christian men, though, so the core of the mainstream doesn't get a lot of traffic from me. Meh.
Also, if I haven't specified a trait in canon, yes it could fall outside the mainstream. Characters have done this to me often enough, and my cultural awareness is diverse enough, that there's no permanent default. They may pop out an uncommon religion or sexual orientation or invisible handicap or whatnot, and they may do that after two stories or six poems or twenty years. I'm more likely to mention physical features such as skin tone and gender up front, because they're noticeable points of diversity. But I've also had characters refuse to reveal their sex/gender, and not just the ones for whom "I'm not telling" is their gender.
I'm interested in other people's perspectives on the matter of single vs. stacked traits.
Re: Thoughts
June 13 2013, 04:33:52 UTC 8 years ago
Yeah, the closest I've gotten is a system who masquerades as a singlet superhero with a haphazard power set only one of them can utilize effectively. They're known for being surprisingly good with mind-controllers. Home field advantage, you know. I should do more with them...
You seem to do well at outlining the kinds of stories that *could* be told. Feel free to drop things like that into any of my prompt calls if they fit the theme. Oh hey look, July 2 fishbowl has "unlikely heroes & implausible villains." Maybe think about some ideas for functional multiples who aren't evil and don't die? Who knows, if we come up with something good, maybe you could illustrate it.
I really like this idea! I meant to hit up your dreams fishbowl, but I somehow managed to JUST miss it, much to my annoyance. I'll be sure to hit up your next one! I can at least INSPIRE work about multis!
Re: Thoughts
June 14 2013, 03:44:11 UTC 8 years ago
That sounds cool.
>> They're known for being surprisingly good with mind-controllers. Home field advantage, you know. <<
*LAUGH* And they have the enemy outnumbered.
I had something in mind, similarly, with someone trying dreamtheft on a writer. Oh hey, you are outnumbered and on my turf and what, you didn't expect my characters to tear apart your team whilst I turned into a dragon and ate you? Silly overlord, next time do your homework first.
>> I should do more with them... <<
Yes, that would be awesome.
>> I really like this idea! <<
Yay!
>> I meant to hit up your dreams fishbowl, but I somehow managed to JUST miss it, much to my annoyance. <<
Alas, that happened to several folks. For future reference, if you're not sure you can make it to the open fishbowl, you can leave me advance prompts.
>> I'll be sure to hit up your next one! I can at least INSPIRE work about multis! <<
I look forward to it. A multi superhero would certainly fit.