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Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Imperfections: Characterization Thanks to Glee
So, I watched last season’s finale of Glee the other day. I preface this by saying I don’t watch TV. At all. But someone posted a Glee song on Facebook and I listened and I thought, hey, not too bad. So, I got curious and I skimmed through the season finale on Fox’s website.
I think I’d forgotten that I used to enjoy TV dramas.
All that angst. The pregnant girl in the love triangle. The suspended teacher leaving his wife. The other soon-to-be married teacher in love with the suspended teacher. All that underdog righteousness.
But, while all this makes for great television alone, I feel like some of the beauty of Glee is the insane mix of characters in the club. It was like a cross-section of every high school I’ve ever visited, all in one show. But somehow, it fit.
More than fit, it was brilliant. Like real life, each character has their blessings and each has their cross to bear. They’re all painted so well, with all their trials and tribulations, their positives and negatives, I didn’t feel like it was some sort of equal opportunity experiment. They felt real, in all their imperfections.
The lead singer, for example. I only watched this one episode, but her nuances came through clearly. Phenomenal talent, talent that the rest of the club can easily see. And they respect her for it, acknowledge her superior skills. But she’s a bit arrogant. A complete brown nose, tries to be little Miss Perfect. So she remains an outcast, never really accepted. Yet, I got the feeling she wanted to belong, wanted the rest of them to like her, but she didn’t know how really.
And the brief hints of her feelings towards the male lead (who was in love with the pregnant girl)? Fantastic.
It all got me thinking about how the imperfections in our characters can be just as important as their strengths.
So what kind of imperfections do you saddle your characters with? Do you choose their imperfections purposefully or do they arise as you write? Do you juxtapose imperfections between main characters? With a characters strengths?
I think I’d forgotten that I used to enjoy TV dramas.
All that angst. The pregnant girl in the love triangle. The suspended teacher leaving his wife. The other soon-to-be married teacher in love with the suspended teacher. All that underdog righteousness.
But, while all this makes for great television alone, I feel like some of the beauty of Glee is the insane mix of characters in the club. It was like a cross-section of every high school I’ve ever visited, all in one show. But somehow, it fit.
More than fit, it was brilliant. Like real life, each character has their blessings and each has their cross to bear. They’re all painted so well, with all their trials and tribulations, their positives and negatives, I didn’t feel like it was some sort of equal opportunity experiment. They felt real, in all their imperfections.
The lead singer, for example. I only watched this one episode, but her nuances came through clearly. Phenomenal talent, talent that the rest of the club can easily see. And they respect her for it, acknowledge her superior skills. But she’s a bit arrogant. A complete brown nose, tries to be little Miss Perfect. So she remains an outcast, never really accepted. Yet, I got the feeling she wanted to belong, wanted the rest of them to like her, but she didn’t know how really.
And the brief hints of her feelings towards the male lead (who was in love with the pregnant girl)? Fantastic.
It all got me thinking about how the imperfections in our characters can be just as important as their strengths.
So what kind of imperfections do you saddle your characters with? Do you choose their imperfections purposefully or do they arise as you write? Do you juxtapose imperfections between main characters? With a characters strengths?
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22 comments:
I don't think I really start with a character flaw in mind. I try to figure out what the hero has to offer and make her need that?
I'm not really sure!
I battled with Terrio quite a bit about The Changed World and defining a goal for Ivy. To define a goal, there has to be a need and all the needs I had for her were emotional and undefined, because Ivy didn't know what she needed. Didn't know what would make her feel better. And if she didn't know that, she certainly could define it as a definate goal. This is something I still feel prickly about...
That darned W Diagram class really screwed with my head on this one... Emotional? I had it in spades. To say her goal was something like a cabin by the lake? Not a chance in hell.
Flaws? She was totally messed up. Walking wounded, bent and twisted, prickly, thorny...but good roots.
I do like a good mixed metaphor!
Insecurity--I always have a bit of insecurity in my female characters. I can relate to a character that is less perfect, less arrogant more often as a reader, so I want my readers to experience the same.
I think that's what I like most about writing; giving my characters imperfections (real life) but also an extraordianary talent or perhaps beauty - - or both (fantasy). The imperfections are often my own. The extraordinary talent or beauty? Not so much. :)
I saddle my characters with imperfections that are debilitating, but I guess I never make them a total underdog, except in their own perceptions.
I know I'm tired and still foggy (pyro was awesome!), but did Chance finish a single thought right there? LOL! There's a goal in there Chancy, you just have to find it!
*yes, I'm poking the prickly pirate this morning*
What was the question again? *scrolls up* Oh, imperfections. Well, unfortunately for my current heroine, she's me. Which was not my intent, but the more I write, the more she's me. Pretty freaking scary, really. All my hang ups. Won't ask for help. Control freak. Independent streak. Quick temper. Which is more a problem for the hero now that I think about it.
Last season's finalte of Glee is also the only episode I watched. I loved it but thought it was interesting that just from the commercials and the little I knew about it, I knew exactly who everyone was and didn't feel like I'd missed a thing. Not sure if that means the show is that well written or that over advertised.
If you haven't watched the football team break into ALL THE SINGLE LADIES, you have to look it up on YouTube. Freaking hysterical.
The only real flaw I'm aware of in my characters (of the current manuscript) is that Lucy likes to manipulate people. He manipulates to get what he wants because he thinks a) everyone else is dumber than he is; b) he got short shifted on the curse deal; and c) it's rather entertaining to watch people jump to the conclusions he creates. Being a manipulating person, I know is not a good character trait (as much as it might amuse me in a character) and that's probably why I can identify it.
As for the protagonist and his female protagonist, their flaws run much more mundane: they're stubborn, argumentative, and occasionally brick stupid about stuff. Adam likes to pick fights with his wife: "poke the bear"--he loves to poke the bear. (I understand this trait because it is mine. I am always poking the bear. I am also a bear that people poke--so I know the other side, but generally my reputation is relatively fierce that some do not choose to poke the bear simply because they know I will rip their head off and carry it around as a trophy.)
If Eve's got a flaw, it's that Hermione Granger/Martha Stewart/Type A personality of "I can't sit and be still because there is something to do or the world will unhinge". But is that a flaw or is that more a quirk?
I'm not sure how to improve on giving my characters deeper flaws, quirkier quirks...except to keep writing and see what comes up when they tell me more about themselves. :)
And I should watch Glee more. *LOL*
I missed Tuesday's epi. I was busy scrubbing down furniture. I heart me some Glee. Even after I swore I'd never watch it, I find myself fascinated with it.
My characters are just flawed. They lie. They steal. They cheat. Manipulate. I haven't quite figured out how I'm going to counteract all that. I figure it will happen or it won't. lol
My characters tend to have quirks, rather than flaws, partly because I don't know how to make them flawed AND likeable. LOL (It's a FLAW in me that I can't make them flawed!)
I was told my hero was too perfect, so I had to scuff him up a bit, but he didn't end up with any flaws, just some quirks. Of course, the heroine THOUGHT of them as flaws. LOL So I hope that counts!
Okay, I had to go look to see who wrote this blog. LOL! It's Marn! And I moderated a couple of comments - one from yesterday and one from today. So I think everyone is present and accounted for now. :)
Carry on.
I wondered who wrote this...
Fragmented? Me?
Well, all my characters are that way. So that is their flaw.
So there.
I'm soooo sorry I'm late. I didn't think I'd be gone that long today, but I had a doctor's appointment. They growth scanned my little monster and I do mean monster. He's in the 98% of growth and their best guess at his weight right now is that he's 5 lb 13 oz.
I'm only 33 weeks.
I guess that explains why I'm totally exhausted and feel like I'm schlepping a watermelon around all the time.
I'll start responding right now. Sooo sorry again gals.
Dude, don't apologize, it's no mean feat to schlep around a watermelon. Take a breath. Relax. Have some water.
Chance - What's the W Diagram class? I haven't heard of that one.
Defined goals. I think defined to the character is different than defined to the reader. I don't think the character needs to know what they need, but I feel like the reader should recognize what's missing. Whether the reader realizes what they need to fix what is missing until the end of the story is another story, but I think there can be two different levels of understanding there. (Character vs reader.)
Stacy - I think all my characters are a little insecure too. Like you, that's something I relate to. I think most of us can, honestly. Very universal. :)
http://www.skotos.net/articles/PlotStrategies.html
It's a plot strategy: W-plot device. I believe that's the W to which she is referring. (I don't think Chance is big on plotting.)
Um, for some reason my italics didn't turn off. Sorry....
Good grief. I just watched the part where they break into ALL THE SINGLE LADIES. LOL!!
Awesome.
Isn't that awesome?!
Hellion - Lucy a manipulator? No... I can't imagine... LOL!!
But I think the mundane things you speak of are good flaws. Everyone can understand them. We all have some of that and it's what make us human. I think it makes the characters able to be related to.
And I think I have a little Hermione Granger/Martha Stewart in me. But I'm not willing to admit just how much. Really.
Sin - Lying, cheating, and stealing? Ok, you win. LOL!! Maybe I should be asking you what's good about them. LOL!!
How comes you were scrubbing furniture?
LOL! Ter, it was awesome. :) I <3 some Kurt.
Donna - I think the character's quirks being seen as flaws is definitely good enough.
And I don't think I wrote any "flawed" characters until these current characters. They had quirks. Little things that others might find annoying, but nothing that would potentially get in the way of their happiness. My current characters do though. Their imperfections, their perceived issues, could mess their whole lives up. Hopefully they won't though. We'll see how it goes.
Oh... I forgot to tag myself, didn't I?
I'm losing my mind people. Really. My forgetfulness is hitting an all time low. I forgot deodorant yesterday. I mean, come on. That's horrible. It's not like I haven't been wearing the stuff for like, decades now.
Ugh.
No, I actually do plot. Secretly. Have to hide it from my muse. I took the W-Plot class and my muse freaked and climbed to the top of the crows nest and threw stuff at me when I tried to coax him down.
So, I plot, but secretly and with stealth. Can't do it with any real organization or he'll figure out I'm doing it.
I found the W-Plot class great for afterward. Built a W diagram and use it to write the synopsis!
Marn - the instructor wanted a concrete goal for my heroine. Drove me insane. I mean, if she didn't know, how the hell am I supposed to know? LOL!
I'm gonna have to watch Glee now -- I've seen little clips, but haven't succumbed before. But now I want to! Plus I have room in my "schedule" since White Collar is done for a little bit, AND Lost will be done forever soon. Sniff. LOL
Chance, I was laughing at the thought of hiding the plotting from the Muse. LOL
Marn, I love stories with flawed characters, but I think I'm afraid if I try to write them, I won't be able to get them OUT of the mess I put them into! LOL Maybe if I practice. . .
Chance - I love that you're all secretive. Stealth plotting. It's like a new kind of warfare....
Donna - I'm a bit concerned with my own ability to get my characters out of the mess I've got them in. I'm trying to have some faith. LOL!
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