For those of you who do not know me, in my stories I try to authentically depict other cultures. I've had at least some exposure to cultures outside of America, and for those who are unaware, there are lots of cultures that are nothing like ours. A few folk have said that I do a lot of teaching in my stories.
In my stories, I've depicted Aliens, Fundamentalist Mormons, and Arabs, some innocent, and others not so innocent.
So, to be perfectly clear, my depiction of a devout Muslim is about the pertinence in that culture and is not about Islam. There should be no confusion about that.
Have a nice day.
Gwen
Comments
Beware
It seems to me that unless one is very careful, trying to represent other cultures would be potentially stereotypical. Granted, some cultures bring their stereotypes on themselves.
-- Daphne Xu
I've been all over the world
And just love exposure to other cultures.
I don't understand?
Pardon me, but I didn't understand.
You said, it "is about the pertinence in that culture." What did you mean? The pertinence of what in that culture?
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Always do your homework.
Make sure you know enough to feel comfortable with language, customs, ideology. It amuses me sometimes when I see British people inadvertently drop "lorries", "boots","Lifts" etc. into American characters dialogue.
Cultural Gaffes.
I love it when UK and other folk 'drop' words that are peculiar to their cultures into a story because I usually stop to look it up and I become more educated. When I was helping to rebuild in Honduras, I heard words like 'tornillo' and 'Electricidad', and working out what those words mean brought us closer.
It is a great big world out there, so don't fail to enjoy it because of a closed mind. :)
Gwen
you
Might get your jollies from that but it's far worse when 'mericans think they are writing English characters.
FWIW I haven't heard anyone use lorry for a long time, most people use truck.
Unlike some other languages, English is continually evolving, word use and even meaning changes, sometimes quite quickly. For example when I was a kid in the 70's a Beanie was a soft brimmed mens sunhat. Somewhere down the line this has changed to refer to a knitted cap.
Writing within a different culture (note that culture is not religion) is more than just the customs. Getting the language right and even the correct clothing is important if you want it to read with some authenticity.
From personal observation it's clear that some writers dress characters in wish fulfilment outfits rather than age or situation appropriate garments.
I wouldn't claim to be perfect but I do take enough notice of teen fashion to dress my characters suitably - made more difficult as it changes from country to country. My UK domiciled 'actors' wear quite different stuff to the Germans for example. I can't imagine any of the teens wearing a dirndl for example whilst in Germany etc this would be quite common. There are always exceptions, city dwellers are more likely to wear 'global' fashion.
So be careful what you write, either avoid detail or do good research. (my excuse for all my foreign trips!)
Mads
Madeline Anafrid Bell
it's far worse when 'mericans think they are writing English cha
Exactly why I've struggled for six years to do a "Petticoat Detective" story I've got roaming around in my head. While I've captured the concept and the mindset of the characters, I cringe at the way I'd butcher the British colloquialisms not to mention the customs involved telling the story. :o(
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin ein femininer Mann
I DID try to write 'English'.
"Katia In Afghanistan", was just such a story. I did get some criticism but most were gently helpful. I did as much research as I could do.
I am not the most popular author here, so you might simply wish to ignore what I write if you will be too deeply offended. :)
Gwen
Please, Not a Brawl?
I only thought to gently discuss intentions when writing about various cultures. In my case, I can only write about my impressions about what I have witnessed in various times I was exposed to Honduras, Kenya, Israel, Japan, Thailand, Canada and various cultures in America. Utah Mormon culture is unique. New Orleans was odd but fun. Oklahoma folk were sweet and hospitable. Ohio was interesting. They were even nice to me when I was a full on Muslim. Maine is a place I would like to have explored more, and perhaps permanently returned to?
As a result of a story I am reading, I'm fantasizing about living in New Mexico, but just found out that Albuquerque is crime ridden.
I feel very sad that some people I meet are nursing deep anger just below the surface, and any slight excuse seems to bring it out.
I'll not be one to tell you to shut up. Perhaps you've endured lots of injustice and it leaves you feeling impotent and frustrated? Many here have also, so you might wish to think of them as your brothers and sisters?
Peace
Gwen
I've more than once offered
I've more than once offered British authors to edit their American characters dialog. Only once did they take me up on it.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin ein femininer Mann
This Is Not a Class.
I come here to have a bit of fun.
Gwen
Erin, perhaps you'd want to unpub this blog?
I did not intend to cause such an uproar.
Gwen
Don't worry about it Gwen.
It's mostly that one person. I'm sorry I brought up the topic of making sure you use the correct dialects and terminology.
Wanted to join the discussion but...
Hey, Gwen.
I wanted to join the discussion, as I had some of my own stuff that I wanted to share. But not if it's like this again. This is not my first go-round with...
Well, anyway.
Participants who insist on confrontational discussions often cause what could have been a fun and informative discussion to devolve into an argument. But I think one can make points without ruffling feathers. It's called civility. And, instead of celebrating one's being different from everyone else, and one's ability to say things as they really are, one should lament the fact that they are not good enough nor smart enough to say things as they really are yet, at the same time, do it in a civil way. Because, instead of being a maverick, one just comes off as being argumentative, like a child indulging in tantrums for nothing.
To be sure, there is something satisfying in complaining about the status quo, and making inflammatory statements that one's post "doesn't fit the norm here." And it is a great dodge to blame the admin for not allowing free thought. But indulging in this just speaks of one's shortcomings of not being able to learn from previous mistakes. Because this is not any kind of rational fight for one's rights but rather a reflection of one's inability to learn from previous incidents. After all, all that the admin wants is for members to be civil, not that they want to stifle an exchange of ideas.
This is not the admin putting down some attempt to capture some beachhead during world war two, or fight for one's rights during the sixties, or march in the pride parade in New York or something. Rather, it's something simple - be civil. And if one is unable to do that, then one isn't really that smart.
Also, to hang a lantern on one's bad behavior doesn't excuse the bad behavior. I am sure people know the literary tool of "hanging a lantern?"
And if one keeps on doing something antisocial over and over again despite being told not to do it over and over again and paying the price for it over and over again, one should think that, hey, this might be self-destructive behavior. At the very least, one has to think about why one is constantly doing it.
Why not accept responsibility for it, and spread one's wings and learn a new skill - the skill of being able to get one's points across AND, at the same time, actually get others to accept them.
There are also a couple of other skills that few people seem to have mastered: one is the ability to accept responsibility for one's words and actions, and the other is the ability to sincerely apologize. Rather than acting like a child and be petulant or anti-social, be an adult for once and take responsibility. I'm trying to learn these things myself. And though I fail often, I try.
Stop being petulant. Stop being anti-social. Stop being a brat. Please.
click here to read all of my blogs,
click here to read my stories in BCTS, and
click here to see my profile & know more about me.