[Rimbaud]

My interest is also piqued by the inability of more than one or two writers here to create a believable female character.

This is a nasty side-effect of a male-dominated media thinking that a 'strong female character' must necessarily show some of the worse male traits.

The other side of the coin is less well explored; the male characters that ring perhaps more true than our myriad shieldmaidens (and in the hack 'n' slash routine so ably described above by the estimable COT7A, they do) are all flawed, albeit seemingly quite unintentionally. Their comments are frequently misogynist, they have no recourse but to violence, and as for emotional depth, its scarcity in most stories here borders on deliberation.

The avoidance of violence and suffering is a stronger and nobler aim than the indiscriminate use of force. Might does not make right. When you have a conflict between two characters, try and resolve it, work through the issues. Or, leave those issues festering in their minds, while the night turns black around them, which is invariably easier and more enjoyable. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[ April 29, 2003: Message edited by: Rimbaud ]