McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Writing from a different gender perspective
Aludra:
--- Quote from: Kali on October 14, 2009, 08:38:30 PM ---I doubt I could be induced to pick up those books again if paid, honestly. I picked them up because a friend of mine says it's one of his favorite fantasy series, and I just couldn't get past the portrayal of women. We had a different experience reading them, and that's fine. :) But I'm also far from the only person to say that his women are horrible examples of women, and that the portrayals are so negative that Jordan comes off downright misogynistic.
I get what it's like to try to defend a beloved series, tho. My favorite series has a rapist as its main character and I'm forever defending him, what happened, and the series. Stay strong! :D
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Yeah it just sucks to be the only one of my group of friends with the ounce of patience it takes to sit through descriptions like those in WoT and LOTR. *sigh* And the one friend who could sit through them.. She won't read a book that doesn't have a vampire in it. Talk about books with poor characters.. Vamp romances. Eep.
DragonFire:
--- Quote from: Aludra on October 14, 2009, 08:01:57 PM ---My philosphy is that everyone is good. And everyone is bad. At the same time. Yin, yang and all that.
So yeah I always have the option to be conniving, whiny w/e, and I always have the option to rise above it, and when I can do both at the same time, I go for it.
And I'm sorry you feel that they are always those things. They aren't. You may want to try it again with an open mind. Morgaine is wise and powerful. Nynaeve is smart and brave. Egwene is strong, inquisitive, and accepting of others. Morgase (when not brain-washed) is dignified and self-sacrificing. Just as a few examples. I can pull out my texts when I get home and illustrate more for you if you like. I hate to see people decide they hate a book for something that just isn't true. If you say you dislike WoT b/c of the pace or the setting or the writing, then fine. But b/c you think the characters don't have good qualities and only have bad qualities, when it is just not so is another thing.
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The problem with all those characters, and the women in general in those books, is the ultra massive sense of entitlement they carry around, and the fact they consider men to be beneath them.
Jordan claims he was aiming to write 'strong' women, and a culture that had it's gender revolution so long ago that it's not longer even relevant...but I think he was wide of the mark in both cases.
Egwene is all the things you mentioned...but she's also stuck up, and borderline misandrist.
There are multiple examples, but the biggest one I can see is that almost all the female channelers, at some point, use their power to impress upon someone (usually a man) that they are stronger.
That's abuse, right there....
I don't consider them strong women....I consider them sad stereotypes.
Gritti:
I hope someday loads of people argue so adamantly about my work. The fact that this discussion is so heated is a testament to his success...I envy RJ...and Mr. Butcher of course... ;D
DragonFire:
--- Quote from: Gritti on October 15, 2009, 02:07:06 AM ---I hope someday loads of people argue so adamantly about my work. The fact that this discussion is so heated is a testament to his success...I envy RJ...and Mr. Butcher of course... ;D
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THis discussion is heated?
Gritti:
It seemed to be before you entered it. I just mean about the Robert Jordan women thing. You know fan vs. antifan....nevermind.
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