Thursday, December 8, 2011
Hidden Agendas...
I really do love television, especially the quirky little series. I’m a fan of characters, in general, that is what I watch for. A good role and actor will totally suck me in. But it’s the twisty little ways my mind absorbs and then juggles plots about that inspires me. Until I begin to wonder…how many hidden agendas are out in TVLand? Not to mention LitLand.
For one thing, scifi/fantasy has always been accused of planting hidden agendas in their stories. Whether they end up on video or in books. One case in point? Avatar. The pope himself raised objections to the propaganda underneath the film…that a living planet bound the natives together without a ‘big guy in the sky’ premise.
I laughed. (Not at the notion, I thought Mr. Pope had it pretty spot on, but at the objection.)
Now, I’m watching Terra Nova. It’s on Fox, so I figured it would have all sorts of ‘global warming is nonsense’ at the most and at the least, make the colony, sent to a prehistoric past to give mankind a second chance, terribly earnest and religious.
Surprise!
Nope. The future air is nearly unbreathable, it’s a totalitarian world and those who first started the colony, though bound by a military sense of honor, are not wound up in God stuff. And the big bad in this series, other than the occasional ravaging dinosaur, is the merchants in the future, who want to mine the past, strip it of resources to bring to the dying future.
Okay, I can see wanting to save the world simply because they want to save the world, but from the hints dropped, it isn’t for saving the world…it’s for profit and power. And the way they manipulate the agents they sneak into the past…by holding their children hostage? Ugly.
I’m a huge fan of the guy in charge, Colonel Taylor. Who, surprise! Was the really evil guy in Avatar. In fact, I think Stephen Lang would be a fabulous Captain Silvestri when the movie version of The Kraken’s Mirror comes out…
But I digress as I drool…I’m watching this show and finding myself looking for the agenda and the propaganda. I do the same with Fringe and Haven and a handful of other scifi/techy shows. I find the hidden messages do seem more prevalent in these type of shows. I suppose because the hidden message of something like The Big Bang Theory is more obvious, brainy guys can be sexy. (Except Sheldon.)
A series like Revenge, who my friend Jane got me hooked on, is a nice little exercise in vengeance and so it’s fun. But I’m not sure there is any major social message embedded in the very rich reaping what they sew.
Books have often been accused of preaching philosophies. I admit it, mine are full of the things that I believe in. But I hope it’s simply part of the plot and not seen as an attempt to proselytize. I don’t think we can help it, it’s human nature to ‘speak’ of what moves you to tears or makes you want to take up arms.
And sometimes that is simply the idea of a second chance at love and life.
And sometimes it’s about fleeing to past to escape the consequences of what a species has done to the present…
The season finale is coming up on Terra Nova and I have a bad feeling about it. The bad guys are gonna take over the colony and from hints dropped, more kids are going back to the future to keep their parents in line. I hate things like that, just makes me feel sick. I may tape it and watch it later. I know it’s a plot development that makes it all more personal, but still…
I’d rather watch them fight dinos. Especially Stephen Lang.
And if they kill him off I’m not going to watch the show anymore.
Now, back to agendas…do you have any hidden messages in your writing? Come on, fess up! You sneaking in some life lessons into your books? Ever read a book that you felt pounded a viewpoint on you? Or seen a movie that you left wondering why they bothered with a story?
My confession? Oh, big on the environmental stuff. Down on organized religion. Liberal viewpoints of my characters, I’m all over my books!
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37 comments:
*looks around*
HOW am I the first one here? It's after 10a over here!
I'm sure there are hints of my beliefs and values in my characters. For one, they're be socially liberal. But I don't think I make the not so nice characters conservative as if that is a negative trait. I'd have to think about this. I'm thinking the "Don't judge a book by its cover" hint might be in there. (Ironic, I know.) But is that a hidden agenda?
I'm not political in my stories. Not nearly as much as in real life. Huh. Now I really need to think about this. And I'd never watch that show. Sounds horrible (to me.) LOL!
My hidden agenda is that God is a lot more laid back than organized religion makes him out to be; sex is awesome, especially when it's dirty; and global warming is a big myth.
Okay, not really the third one...I just needed a third one and couldn't think fast. Besides your hippie stuff was making me twitch.
P.S. I loathed Avatar. In fact, if I were given the choice of torture of listening to Walt Whitman OR watching Avatar, I'd choose death. What? Oh, I mean, I'd choose Walt Whitman. Freudian slip there.
Maybe that should be my THIRD propaganda thing: how much I loathe Avatar and Walt Whitman. Yeah, that's my third.
I haven't seen anything you've listed up there, except for Revenge, which I LOVE. I adore Nolan, and Jack--both are incredible actors, who can say so much with a slight change of their facial muscles. I find them fascinating, with lots of layers.
I don't think I have hidden messages or agendas in my stories. It should be fairly easy to determine what I care about, and what I value. :)
Bosun, I think hidden agendas are everywhere...even if they are 'don't underestimate the short woman' or 'even the non-perfect get to fall in love' ... but most aren't deeply thought out as agendas...
But they are still there!
You might not hate the show! There is a family at the center of the action...
;-) Hellion, it's okay. I used Avatar because it does spark such strong reaction. I personally found it a bit of a so-so movie.
But I can see your agendas in your writing and they make perfecdt sense to me!
I like the idea that sex is awesome!
Hmmmm, Donna... I bet they are there, just more subtle. It's hard to create a world without imprinting it with your beliefs in some way.
Revenge is interesting... I believe the youngest daughter will end up being Emilly's sister...what do you think?
It's officiall: Hellion and I were seperated at birth - "how much I loathe Avatar and Walt Whitman." Yep, that's me all over again.
Not sure I have any hidden messages yet, expect for I can see myself writing a lot of heroines who don't have kids/won't have kids and are fantastically ok with that. LOL
Although in defense of my writing, I haven't actually had a character who goes off on a rant about Avatar or Walt Whitman yet. Maybe that'll be my next writing prompt, you think?
I'm not sure hidden agenda is the same as Core Story, but forgiveness is also a big deal to me. And acceptance of people as they are, not as you think they should be. (Unconditional love.) But those things aren't really political.
I'm trying to think if I'd try to go political about abortion. That'd be a big one for me. Because as a women's rights proponent, I think women should be able to choose instead of seek out this choice illegally and at greater risk to herself than it already is. Too much reading of the history of it and how women did it illegally. BUT I can't say if I was in that position, I'd want to do it. I think if I didn't feel I could raise the child, I'd give it up for adoption--this is all hypothetical, of course. But the point is that I'd have the CHOICE to make that decision.
But abortion is not a romance novel...or even much of a women's fiction friendly topic, you know? Some politics just can't be discussed.
Scapey, I knew we were separated at birth...and that I'm actually like 6 years younger or so than I actually am. I'll have to tell Deerhunter.
That's a great message, though! So often romances are leading that way--that it's not a true HEA if there are no kids to round out the family. But not everyone wants kids!
I'm happy to report I've never watched Avatar. Have no desire to either. LOL! Even before this blog! Though anyone watch the Golden Compass? That's another one that pissed off the Catholic church. Those dudes in the Vatican are so damn sensitive. (As a Cradle Catholic, trust me, I know.)
Scape - Most of my heroines are either past the point of having kids or simply don't find themselves in the position to have them, with no regrets. Considering how many books I read, romance, that end with the baby thing...I think it's a authentic hidden agenda!
Hells - Yeah, the trick is presenting it as a non-political ploy...though it would be possible to include some great aunt who did under the old system...
I think it's a topic that can be handled in a romance to build depth of characters, even it the topic itself isn't romantic.
I'll just have to work harder at convincing you both of Whitman's gentle brilliance. I won't nag about Avatar, don't worry... But Terra Nova is a pretty awesome show... Come on! Isn't that guy a real hunk!
*snicker!
I love how little they trusted their followers to 'get' the message and then decide on their own.
Oh, yeah, but deciding on your own is something they always seem to do battle with. "We must warn the flock!"
It was a very pretty movie.
But TinTin looks like it will be better...
Hellion: As I recall, Marian Keyes's "Angels," has what I think is one the better approaches to the topic of abortion. It's interwoven in the context of a fail marriage and miscarriage. The abortion takes place in Ireland, well, England because abortion is illegal in Ireland. (It's been a while, but I'm pretty sure the book is "Angels.") Despite the protagonists difficulties with pregnancies, or because of, she remains pro-choice.
I imagine nowadays, most authors, especially in romance, are going to shy away from abortion for fear of getting all the god botherers in a lather. Oops, did I say, god botherers? I meant...god botherers.
Yeah, I'm a former Republican turned tree hugging liberal, hippy, feminazi. (Ultimately, my turn to the dark side was just a rebellion against my yellow dog Democrat mom and overall left leaning diaspora of El Paso.)
I think it's natural for intelligent fiction, especially speculative fiction--SF, F, H--to address cultural, scientific and socioeconomic issues in a manner that seems to lean left.
Reality has a left wing bias.
/scurries off before things get ugly. :)
Happy Friday!
Pat's response reminds me of something I realized this week while looking at my Twitter feed. The majority of people I follow seem to have the same socially liberal leanings I do. Which I realize makes sense since I "chose" to follow them, but most I didn't choose for those kinds of reasons. It just happened that way. Funny how that works out.
I'll stay mum on the abortion thing since I'm not as firmly entrenched in the same camp.
:)
Re: Golden Compass. The amusing thing is that The Golden Compass isn't the most anti-religious of the trilogy. (On of my favorite series, evah.) The second and third, where god is portrayed as a dottering fool, strike me as being way more offensive to the kind of religious folk who take themselves too seriously. The Church gets much more evil in the second and third books. By and large, The Golden Compass is just a fun, semi-steampunk, romp.
The movie wasn't the great and adaptation of the book, IMO>
I heard the movie wasn't a strict interpretation. I didn't read the book, but I did think the themes expressed in the movie were spot on.
Well, there are those that bother with god, those that bother god and those that god bothers. And then there are those who aim our bother other directions...
I do agree that all serious fiction, and even I'd argue the not-so-serious, has an agenda. Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe comes to mind...
And kudos to the romances out there who are standing tall for the not twenty, not size 4, not blond and perky, heroine finding love with the guys that are gorgeous! That's an agenda if I ever did read one!
Reality has a left wing bias.
God, I hope so! ;-)
And kudos to the romances out there who are standing tall for the not twenty, not size 4, not blond and perky, heroine finding love with the guys that are gorgeous! That’s an agenda if I ever did read one!
Definitely. And also the heroes who aren't movie star handsome, but can still make you melt. :)
And I totally loved how P.Kirby stirred up shit and then bolted. *LOL* PIRATE.
That's P. Kirby, all the way. I'm sure the greyhound needed to be walked and the horse needed to be fed...
And I totally loved how P.Kirby stirred up shit and then bolted. *LOL* PIRATE.
Technically, she just stirred the pot you put on the stove. LOL!
I'd love to turn up the fire and get some real spicy flowing, but here on the Revenge, the rum mellows out the crew
I don't like things to get too spicy on the ship. I get too angry. *LOL* I'd rather you take a very definitive stance on something that really doesn't matter, like if your toilet paper should roll over or under.
I'm a roll over pirate, myself, but I know people swear by the under method due to cats and children.
Well, that be natural. A captain wants to keep peace on the ship. See the fighting aimed at our enemies!
Mine has to roll over. In case we're taking a poll.
Oh yes, in my house it must roll over the top. LOL - yes, it's been a discussion! :)
Okay, always roll over...easier on the hand to just reach over and spin the roll...
I think this one is safe. Those who still refuse to admit Global Warming is real amaze me. A. Maze.
I'm trying to decide how early to leave work since this is practically a working weekend for me. (Dinner tonight - party tomorrow) Thinking 2:30 sounds good, but might be TOO early. Hmmmm.....maybe 2:45. That sounds better.
I know, it feels so...surreal.WD42
Okay, what is WD42??
Chance, I have no problem with a book, movie or TV show supporting a point of view on an issue. Original Star Trek was blatant about that in some respects--but only on occasion. The more blatant and persistent that opinion is, however, the harder the author works to drive it home, the more I begin to feel that the story is secondary to the opinion. I won't read another book by that author, assuming I even finish the first one.
If I have an agenda in my own books, apart from the story, it's to show women as capable, active partners. Oh, and southerners as Not Idiots. Beyond that, I let the story take care of itself.
I really wanted a LIKE button for Nancy's comment. *LOL*
I'm with you, Nancy. The blatant bit of proslytizing will turn me off, even if it's preaching to the convirted! Must be a good story, all the way through and people I car about.
Writers have opinions and they come through, I don't think it's possible to be anyother way, at least not without losing the ring of authenticity.
Sorry, to confuse you, Bo'sun, my Capcha code ended up in the wrong box... ;-)
Thank you, Hellion and Chance. :-)
I usually vent my frustration about injustice in the world in my writing. But as I'm not writing political thriller, I can't get onto the soap box too long.
BTW, one Oz newspaper rated Terra Nova as the world show in 2011. Hmm, diverse opinon here.
My Darcy Vibrates…
The world show? Does that mean they liked it? I haven't read much opinion here in the states and took a chance on watching this one right away, assuming it would be cancelled due to the cost of production...
I watch it for the men. ;-) Well, one man...
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