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Is there a connection/seperation of authors to their work...
2 years ago
Hello and it's been a VERY long time since I really update or posted anything to my page. I been quite busy with a lot of things outside of this page and only been keeping up with commissioned works via favorites on FA. Though I have been working on some side projects and there are a few with one completed fully (is a story trade) but upon completing it made me think of this question and if I should rewrite, scrub, or preserve written stories and art going forward.
The full question I have is: "The subject(s) that is used in stories or art something that is tied closely to an author/artist that if one side be it author or piece will create issues for both?"
This community is a kaleidoscope of people, ideas, of expectations, and yes fetishes and each turn of the scope brings a different thing into perspective. I as a person want to think, see, learn, and create these things in writing but fear in doing so might reflect poorly on me as a person as try to create something that others find disapproving. I as a person have come at odds with what I have wrote and yet I want to write about it because it is WHO I am NOT. Is the writing, themes, ideas, fetishes reflect upon me as the author in such a way that it runs axiomatic to who I am, yet not?
I want to explore ideas and concepts that others propose yet I don't want these to be reflective of who I am as a person as I don't share these things with them. Is the fiction I write who I am as a person even if it is written with things I and others dislike? Where is the line between person and the fiction they write? Does it come with a disclaimer and it makes it alright or does it forever sit as an idea or print never to see the light of day because that is not who I am least I be judged on it?
I want to write about the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between but to do so I have to step into things that I hate and is repulsed by but yet makes sense for the fiction. Can I write a story that has a bad ending where there is little to no good in it? If I write about things that mirror my life in fiction does that reflect upon me as a person outside of the work? Can I write things that I and others see as taboo, yet not be seen as being part of that taboo? These are rather complex questions and honestly I don't know if there is an answer to them.
Many people look at my stories and take away who I am from them and the same can be seen with the art that is done for me. These stories and art is not a one-to-one match of who I am but just intersections of thought, of exploration, of places that not many have gone too. I like to treat the world of fiction separate of who I am as a person because they are not about me but about the people and ideas that are contained with-in and how they cope with what they where given. I love playing with ideas and themes that are so different yet mix and separate into stories that I disagree with yet fun to write because I do disagree with them. Yet, I fear if I publish these stories of fiction people will see me as who I am not. I want to write the unwritten but know that the unwritten is unwritten for what it says about you.
Do I only publish things I agree with as a person or do I step out and publish things of who I am not? If I open up to write stories for other people should I limit myself to what I believe in or should I try to write what the others believe in?
Who am I? I am just a person like everyone else, different yet the same.
The full question I have is: "The subject(s) that is used in stories or art something that is tied closely to an author/artist that if one side be it author or piece will create issues for both?"
This community is a kaleidoscope of people, ideas, of expectations, and yes fetishes and each turn of the scope brings a different thing into perspective. I as a person want to think, see, learn, and create these things in writing but fear in doing so might reflect poorly on me as a person as try to create something that others find disapproving. I as a person have come at odds with what I have wrote and yet I want to write about it because it is WHO I am NOT. Is the writing, themes, ideas, fetishes reflect upon me as the author in such a way that it runs axiomatic to who I am, yet not?
I want to explore ideas and concepts that others propose yet I don't want these to be reflective of who I am as a person as I don't share these things with them. Is the fiction I write who I am as a person even if it is written with things I and others dislike? Where is the line between person and the fiction they write? Does it come with a disclaimer and it makes it alright or does it forever sit as an idea or print never to see the light of day because that is not who I am least I be judged on it?
I want to write about the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between but to do so I have to step into things that I hate and is repulsed by but yet makes sense for the fiction. Can I write a story that has a bad ending where there is little to no good in it? If I write about things that mirror my life in fiction does that reflect upon me as a person outside of the work? Can I write things that I and others see as taboo, yet not be seen as being part of that taboo? These are rather complex questions and honestly I don't know if there is an answer to them.
Many people look at my stories and take away who I am from them and the same can be seen with the art that is done for me. These stories and art is not a one-to-one match of who I am but just intersections of thought, of exploration, of places that not many have gone too. I like to treat the world of fiction separate of who I am as a person because they are not about me but about the people and ideas that are contained with-in and how they cope with what they where given. I love playing with ideas and themes that are so different yet mix and separate into stories that I disagree with yet fun to write because I do disagree with them. Yet, I fear if I publish these stories of fiction people will see me as who I am not. I want to write the unwritten but know that the unwritten is unwritten for what it says about you.
Do I only publish things I agree with as a person or do I step out and publish things of who I am not? If I open up to write stories for other people should I limit myself to what I believe in or should I try to write what the others believe in?
Who am I? I am just a person like everyone else, different yet the same.
However most of the time it's used as a deflect. People writing about kinks that they totally don't enjoy but their character do. They enjoy it just fine, they just don't want to admit to it, for whatever reason.
At least that has been my experience. In short, if someone's really good at writing fucked up stuff, it's probably for a reason.
Take writings from one author who does something really well for one thing your not experienced with, then trying to match that same concepts they use to your character.
Like why do they write things this way as to my way. Why they focus on this, as to that. Why is this thing brought up regardless of it's impotence to the story.
If I want to write about a kink or something I am not familiar with, I go to the source even if it's something I don't agree with. The perspective of someone is just as important as there ideas. But if I write about it does that mean I share there perspective and agree with it at some point?
- Attributed to Cardinal Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu
In other words, if someone wants to tear you down, they will. If they want to find something wrong with you or your work, they will. The only real choice you have is to be an artist or don't be an artist.
They even have been going after writers that have been dead for a long time, completely ignoring that they were people of their time. Want to look up those people's ancestors? In all probability they were just as bad as the artists they want to tear down.
In the end you have to live with what you create. If you are not comfortable with a subject, don't write about it, but don't mutilate the world for that. People will sense something missing.
For example, while it is difficult to write about ancient Rome and leave out slavery, it can be done, but you will be on a tightrope the entire time.
But I always found that using history can make a story more interesting. Even if you export it to an entirely different world.
When it comes to fetishes, that's completely your choice.
Just remember, being an artist means you bend over and let the world take it's best shot.
Using your example of a Romain piece; A story written as if penned by an author of that time using slavery as there subject and how to use them in a way that is barbaric to our current standards but not there standards?
Fetishes I feel are far more decisive as they speak to a more personal level of that character or person. I want to write things someone gets but too me means little or worse loathe to write about knowing others share the same sentiment. There are things I will never get or care for but I don't want that to be what limits me in the writing something about it.
Considering how they try to rewrite history with productions like 'The Woman King'? They only care about 'their' message and nothing else.
While these people scream the loudest, they don't represent any majority. Even major movie studios are re-learning that the people everything hinges on are paying customers.
For a 100 people that like your stuff you might get 5-10 people that comment on it, while of the 10 people that don't like it about 9-10 will tell you so.
While it's not an easy path, do your thing. Most of these people will be gone from the limelight soon enough even though they seem to be here forever. If you write your own universe, it's your universe and if you do historic fiction, stay as close as possible to history.
Stay true to yourself. In the long run, this tends to work the best. No guarantees though.
BTW, while I haven't read the book, I once watched the adaptation to 'The Whore' and as a historical drama I cringed several times. A few whores making some accusations to a noble without proof and get their way? I have no idea how that became a bestseller. For a short time at least. It has also been criticised as a negative example of historical fiction for it's inaccurate portrayal of the background and the language of the time.
Sure, for some time such 'historical' novels sold well, mostly because many ended up being romances I think, but most of them are all but forgotten. On the other hand, 'The Physician' is still well remembered as a trailblazer for historical fiction.
I see sections of writing, topics, kinks, and fetishes that are not used but yet if do use them in writing do I become what I write?
If anyone wrote a drug fueled sex orgy piece or series does that make them a drug addict? The fact is if something is written that is highly taboo in society be it in good or bad light gets you branded.
I wanted to know if I can write freely of judgement of who I am as a person despite my works. But clear by the dialogue that not many see the world's I create as fantasy and divorced from the authors current outlook on life.
Makes me upset and feels like I am forced to write a single perspective, which is my own and not that of who ever that character is.
Does it really matter if they judge you for who you are or for who you are not because they can't differentiate between you and your art?
And don't forget, even if you write the single perspective which is your own, they might find something, twist it, interpret it how they want and judge you for something you are not anyway. And here is the real kicker, some of them don't even do that deliberately. They see something, interpret it the way they see it and judge you for it.
I am sorry, but that is how it is.
It speaks volumes that as a society people are more willing to go after someone for writing about a kink than writing about violence, though. I'm not sure there's an easy answer, here.
Normally these things don't bother me but as I get older and want to hold onto what I have as friends who sadly may not see this clear separation.