Avoiding the Appearance of Favoritism

[shipperx]

Actually, the post isn't really about avoiding the appearance of favoritism (I just have an icon for that) and more about what constitutes character bashing.

Bear with me. This is a something of a stream of consciousness brought on by my having seen the link to a 'Spike meta' last night that if it were translated into Angel terms would boil down to something along the lines of "Angel: Hero or Hyper-controlling Douchebag?" (By the way, I'm not posing that question, nor do I think posing such a question would do justice to a character that I believe is both nuanced and complex and better than either simplistic answer). Anyway, I avoided delving into the linked post because, what's the point? People think what they think, and if I followed the link, I'd no doubt end up saying something snarky because that's what I do. Nothing good would come of the exercise.

Still, it's somewhat lingered in my thoughts as I reviewed my notes for the next chapter that I'm writing in the never-ending fanfic. I don't know whether all the notes will make it into the final draft, but when reading the notes, I wondered whether when I post a chapter of a Spuffy-centric story should place a warning that it will involve Bangel? Some folks are quite sensitive to Bangel showing up in Spuffy fics. On the other hand, I wondered if I post it with a Bangel warning for Spuffies whether I also needed to warn that, while there are romantic Bangel scenes involved, it's not OTP 4 Evah Bangel either. I almost feel that if I say there's Bangel, because I'm a Spuffy, it would be analyzed with an eye toward Bangel bashing.

I hate character bashing fic. I really do. But it must be said that in many respects, bashing is in the eye of the beholder. What one person feels is an honest assessment of a character or a subject is to a partisan seen as 'bashing'. If you're not part of the partisan group for a character, I do think that there has to be a little sensitivity involved.

That said, one thing I try to tell myself is that fic is better when it's honest. Sometimes I find I write around the world to keep from saying something bluntly and I end up having to back up and tell myself to cut the bull and just be honest. Say what I think. I am aware, however, that though something is honest, it's a very subjective honesty. It's what I think. It's not objective truth. It's what dovetails with my views and the needs of my story. And I have worried whether something I write can objectively be viewed as character bashing (subjectively, we're all screwed. Someone will always be offended. People have their sensitivities.) We can't always worry about that. However, I think that characterization is important, which is why when something really crosses the line into character bashing in a story it bothers me. (Although it's also amused me that I had agonized over Angel's behavior over something in a fic, worrying whether it might constitute crossing an invisible line... and then the comics blew right passed me into territory I would never have dared go. Hell, I was just contemplating a faux pas compared to the comics that went all slayer-killer or "I'm not telling Buffy that I'm allowing an apocalypse for her own good". Either way, not good. But it does make me wonder whether I was worrying way too much over my Angel character foible. By comparison it's nothing!)

I also worry whether when I have a character say something that it's perceived as my saying it. Basically, I have Lindsey say stuff about Angel. And, I think for it to carry weight it needs some truth to it, and there is some truth in it. However, I also don't consider Lindsey to be an objective voice regarding Angel. I'm letting Lindsey say some things that I wouldn't let other characters say or even think. Will that be taken as character bashing? Lindsey has all sorts of issues with Angel, some fair and some unfair. I don't consider allowing Lindsey to have a chip on this shoulder to be condoning everything that Lindsey says... but will that be taken as my validating Lindsey's issues? Will that be taken as my "character bashing?"

I think the reason I worry about the stuff involving Angel is because Angel does not actively appear in the fic. (He's in some flashbacks, but he really isn't part of the story). That's somewhat deliberate. He's a shadow for other characters as Buffy's relationship to him, Spike's relationship to him, and Lindsey's relationship to him are all issues I wanted to explore and to deliberately do so without Angel being actively part of the plot.

Angel is important to the story even though it's not Angel's story. It isn't about Angel. It's about Buffy, Spike, and even Lindsey. But, each of them have Angel issues and so I deal with those situations through their eyes. Spike and Lindsey in particular have a few negative thoughts/feelings to express... because I think Lindsey has hard feelings and Spike has conflicted ones. My adding Buffy's on top of it complicates matters. But I don't consider these characters to be objective. I don't expect them to be.

Does my seeing Angel through a specific characters eyes come across as my validating this point of view, even if I don't believe myself that the view being expressed is objective?

Oh well. I said this was stream of consciousness, right? I don't have any real point to make, just that these are things I've thought about while plotting.

It's now rainy and cloudy and I'm overwhelmed by an urge to nap. :)

Comments

[next_to_normal]

And I also worry whether when I have a character say something whether it's perceived as my saying it.

I have run across that on more than one occasion - which is unfortunate, because I love unreliable narrators and so the things that come out of their mouths are not necessarily the objective truth.

For example, in the most recent fic I posted, Spike says some not-so-nice things about Buffy. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE Buffy, and that's totally not how I think of her. Spike's angry and defensive and saying things not because they're true, but because he wants to hurt her. And yet, I got comments from people cheering Spike on, because that's actually how they see Buffy. And apparently, they didn't realize that by praising that part, they were completely disagreeing with me about Buffy.

I don't really have any solutions or conclusions to draw from that. Just that I know what you mean about analyzing how the characters will be received and worrying if you're unintentionally sending the wrong message.

[rahirah]

I run into problems with a lot of stories where I may agree with the author that yes, there's a problem here that needs to be addressed - but then the author addresses it in such a ham-handed, anvilicious, out of character way that I can't buy it. :P

[next_to_normal]

Heh, yeah, that too.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

My Spike is an incredibly unreliable narrator. Not only does he project his own issues onto others but he has issues that he cannot even admit to himself are issues... but they keep bleeding out in certain situations.

I also have to admit to enjoying playing with Buffy's ability to avoid thinking about things she doesn't want to examine. Girl is the queen of denial when she feels like it.

I tend to think these sorts of things make them human. Or manpire. :)

[rahirah]

This is something I've given a lot of thought to, as well. I do think that there are ways of cluing the readers in to the fact that a character is an unreliable narrator, or to the fact that a character's views don't necessarily reflect the views of the author. But those methods are necessarily imperfect, and there's no way to ensure that every reader will take a story exactly the way that the author means it. So we just have to do our best, and kick the story out into the cold cruel world.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Well, you've actually read one of the scenes. I try to have Spike balance it a little. On the other hand, I'm not sure that Lindsey is entirely wrong in what he's saying. The thing that works for me is that I don't actually have to decide what I think. I can easily see Lindsey thinking that way so it's valid from his POV. I may be on the fence objectively, but I'm pretty certain about Lindsey thinking Angel was full of himself when ordering that Lindsey be killed. Lindsey isn't going to see much gray area there.

I'm fine with characters being flawed. I like the flawed. I just don't want to take it too far, you know? I want something reasonably organic to the character and not filled with an agenda.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

I think you might be in better shape than you think simply because you have multiple characters weighing in. So, even if Lindsey says/thinks something that could be construed as bashing about Angel (and he should, the guy took out a hit on him!), another character will have another, more nuanced take.

That said, readers don't always get the subtleties. However, I find that those that do really appreciate that you've given them something multi-dimensional. Please yourself, and at least one person will be happy, I always say!

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that this is the first time I've written Lindsey but thus far he's proven to be incredibly useful and one heck of a lot of fun because he can say the most truly awful things to the other characters. I kind of like having him around to take the piss out of everyone. :)

[next_to_normal]

However, I find that those that do really appreciate that you've given them something multi-dimensional.

Yes. It's so much more rewarding when someone picks up on the more subtle clues and realizes there's more here than meets the eye, even if they go over a lot of people's heads.

[menomegirl.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, it would be totally in character for Lindsey to say some very harsh things about Angel. And I would not see such a thing as Angel-bashing.

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

Hi!

I certainly think that putting criticism of a character into someone else's mouth is a lot safer than saying it in authorial voice - though like you say, someone's bound to take offence anyway. Maybe to be even safer, you could lampshade it more. Compare:

1. "Angel's a hyper-controlling douchebag," said Lindsey. "And here's why..."

2. Lindsey curled his lips contemptuously. "Angel's a hyper-controlling douchebag," he said mockingly. "And here's why..."

3. "Angel's a hyper-controlling douchebag," said Lindsey.

"Nah, you're being too harsh on the bloke..." replied Spike; but Lindsey cut him off before he could continue.

"Yes he is, and here's why..."

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Actually, I do have it working in somewhat that way with Spike trying balance out Lindsey's criticisms. Of course what Lindsey is criticising is Angel's decision to kill him in NFA, so Lindsey has cause to be pretty pissed off. And Spike hasn't really ever considered whether Angel making that choice was a fair or wise one. If Lorne's vision can be trusted, then I suppose it was. But then Spike isn't a great believer in uncompromising inevitable fate.

And, of course, the whole reason Lindsey is even bringing the question up is to manipulate Spike.

There are lots of reasons for why the scene is there and how it serves the plot, but Lindsey gets to make some less than flattering observations... about several people, actually.

The truth is, it's made me appreciate Joss's tendency to have a Cordy, an Anya, a Spike, or a Lindsey around to make uncomfortable observations about characters and situations. There's something to be said for it.

[angelus2hot]

I believe that you're right most times character bashing is in the eyes of the beholder. There are fics out there that leave no doubt as to its bashing. I've come across fics where Buffy is such a total B**** that she's almost unrecognizable from the character on BtVS. It makes me sad and I try to avoid those at all costs. I don't(and probably never will) understand why authors have to tear down another ship just to validate their own.

I would consider it to be in character for Lindsey to say some pretty harsh things about Angel. The same thing with Spike. There's a history between them that wasn't always happy. The same thing between Bangel, Spuffy or any of the other ships on the shows. Once you're exes sometimes harsh things tend to get said.