I think we have to be careful with words, and images, and symbolism: The smallest, most subtle carelessness in expression will bring down 500 years of oppression on us, reinforce hurtful and sadist resentments and throw us back in unforeseeable ways.
Great essay you wrote! I think it is really difficult to avoid the re-enforcement of tropes when trying to depict believable characters, mainly because while fiction is constructed, it also comes from the "dark side of the moon", the non-rational, subconscious part of our psyche. Add to that the different blind spots a writer might have, and, in the case of commercial writing, the time pressure as well as the economical pressure to produce something sell-able.
You (as well as gryfndor_godess)articulate a lot of the things why i struggle with the character of Xander (and Angel) myself, but fortunately, i have a brain to think for myself and thus the ability to actually decipher Xander's behaviour as well as muse on the circumstances which led the writers to write the character in a certain way.
(And no-one in the world is able to force me to like a character or hate a character.)
no subject
Great essay you wrote! I think it is really difficult to avoid the re-enforcement of tropes when trying to depict believable characters, mainly because while fiction is constructed, it also comes from the "dark side of the moon", the non-rational, subconscious part of our psyche. Add to that the different blind spots a writer might have, and, in the case of commercial writing, the time pressure as well as the economical pressure to produce something sell-able.
You (as well as gryfndor_godess)articulate a lot of the things why i struggle with the character of Xander (and Angel) myself, but fortunately, i have a brain to think for myself and thus the ability to actually decipher Xander's behaviour as well as muse on the circumstances which led the writers to write the character in a certain way.
(And no-one in the world is able to force me to like a character or hate a character.)