Comments on: The Point Of A Story

By: Bugs

Bugs — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:48:09 +0000

James,

I appreciate what you’re doing. And I’m glad there are more places on the Internet for creative people who don’t mindlessly channel the Zeitgeist.

By: James Hudnall

James Hudnall — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:35:05 +0000

Bugs,

People who say “look around” in response to why fiction is so bleak are people who are either ignorant, unimaginative or clueless.

Look around? At what? The world is a lot better off now than it was during WWII when millions were dying in horrible conflicts. Or the depression before that when masses of people all over the world were dying in poverty, poverty VASTLY worse than what people today call poverty. It was real poverty.

Or how about WWI? How about the 1800s when it was even worse then the 20th century? And keep going back. Things have only been getting better for humanity in so many ways. Yes, there is a long way to go and we’re enduring a very tough time at the moment with the world economy. But we’ll get through it.

This is the kind of stuff that makes me want to speak out on places like this. I am not that political. I’m more critical of politics. The stuff I have issues with are those things that have a negative impact on society. That hold us back. And the kind of thinking you were talking about is part of the problem.

By: Flubber

Flubber — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:11:51 +0000

Someone once said something like “The difference between fiction and real life is that fiction, after all, has to make sense.” Fiction *should* make sense, or why not just make a documentary?

By: JoeCR

JoeCR — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:09:06 +0000

A solution for independent writers and others in the entertainment business will be through the Internet. Interesting that just a a brief comment about a novel led to Amazon and plans to read (buy) the book. A website that reviews objectively the work of independents could be a start; it could also allow persons to download for a fee.

By: Bugs

Bugs — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:18:54 +0000

Regarding bleak portrayals of the present and future: Most “creative” people I’ve mentioned this to reply with something like “Well, just look around!” It’s a chicken-and-egg problem. Are the sensitive, passionate ones just responding to a genuinely dysfunctional world, or are they creating it?

My take on the issue is that the human world has always been dysfunctional and that it’s only people of goodwill – especially creative ones – who make it tolerable and worth living in. If those people give up, as some artists seem to have done, then only bleakness is left.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:26:11 +0000

I love this website! Authors responding and being a part of the discussion enriches the experience, and I thank you. I agree with you for the most part. The art of story-telling seems to have been lost to many, and instead we have art which seeks to shock. I would say though, that art with conservative ideals doesn’t necessarily have be positive to be effective at changing views. A futuristic view showing the negative consequences of unimpeded progressive rule would not be a pretty sight. Likewise, a comedy pointing out the obsurdities of leftist practices wouldn’t necessarily be positive-it could be a comic tragedy, but would be effective. The Monk clip posted on this site is a perfect example.

By: James Hudnall

James Hudnall — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:49:01 +0000

Actually, you’re right. I did not want to make it sound like a “Do it for the children” argument. That’s a bête noire or mine. It was more of an after thought that put this sentence in there.

But, if you talk to a lot of kids these days and they think, from all the dystopian, negative futures in Sci-Fi to all the conspiracy laced TV shows and internet memes, that the future is bleak. It doesn’t have to be.

My point is that many people are “informed” by what they see in pop culture and so much of it is negative nowadays. And negativity is not constructive. We need to think positive to achieve positive solutions.

That’s more along the line of where I was going with that.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:03:05 +0000

I think you must have lost concentration when writing this, “Some creative people today are making fiction that seeks to tear down society, through slurs and condemnation. But they offer no ideas, no constructive solutions, and for many of us, no reason to agree with them. But to young impressionable minds, this is harmful because it makes many kids think it’s a form of reality. As I said, fiction can serve to put reality in perspective. The perspective many kids are getting is one of hopelessness, anger, fear and paranoia.”

Your call to produce art with a purpose is valid in and of itself without resorting to ‘do it for the children.’ It seems out of place with the rest of the piece.

By: Paul Tucker

Paul Tucker — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:13:41 +0000

James, once again another great article. I’m also intrigued by SGT MOM’s posting and intend to research her book, I’ll bet it’s a good read. I’ve found when the political positions of even minor characters in a sitcom annoy me, I’ll sit with the wife and read her a book. One of my favorite authors is Dean Koontz. His books can be unsettling when read with the lights low, but the main characters always overcome with a faith in God and their sprituality. It also doesn’t hurt Koontz identifies himself as a conservative, giving money to the primary campaigns of Fred(wish you had tried harder)Thompson, and Mitt Romney. These views haven’t seemed to hurt his career, and he’s a helluva good read. Good luck with the book SGT MOM!

By: Joe Weldon

Joe Weldon — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:21:41 +0000

Yes, you’re correct, a big reason movies are failing is because they’re becoming a scavenger art – stealing visual scenes and plotlines from other movie.