Thought for the day

[avevale_intelligencer]

If a particular view of a particular character has been held for most of that character's life, by a majority of the character's audience, and is no longer seriously contested by that character's creators or their creative heirs, in what sense (apart from the obvious*) can that view be considered to be "wrong"?

*The obvious, of course, being "I don't agree with it, so everybody else is wrong."

Comments

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

I think if the character's creators agree with it, it's mildly presumptuous to call it "wrong." i would be willing, however, to call other views also valid.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

If the majority of fans agree that something doesn't fit with the existing character, then it's possible that the creators or their heirs have made a mistake about what fits.

I don't have a character in mind, but I think it's fair to say that midichlorians aren't a good aesthetic match for the original Star Wars universe.

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

I think I need specifics before I can get my head around that one.

[keristor.livejournal.com]

It can be considered 'wrong' in a sense outside the context of the story. For instance, take a character whose views included "I have the right to kill anyone I dislike". No matter how consistent that character is in that view, or how much the creator (and heirs) says that this is what the character believes, I can say that the view is wrong in an ethical sense.

But I'm not sure that's what you meant, so I'll look at the other way I can take your post as well:

My feeling is that in general the wishes of the creator[1] are the important ones. If a songwriter says that what they wrote isn't filk (or is, for that matter) then it is plain rude to say otherwise (calling them a liar). If the creator says that their character has a certain view, then even if I disagree with that view (see first paragraph) it is incorrect if I say "but he doesn't actually have that view". Not only is it rude, it's demonstrably incorrect in many cases. "I don't agree with it, so everybody else is wrong" -- yeah, keep thinking that and you may convince yourself[2].

[1] Includes plural where appropriate, and their creative heirs, and in some cases the actors and other people who had influence.

[2] In this context. There are others where the individual is correct and the majority wrong, but arguing with a creator about the views of their character is very unlikely to be one of them.

[batyatoon]

Considered by whom?

*wanders off whistling*

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

But... intent is not effect. It may be that the creators intended a particular view but failed in the execution.

Also, often fans want to believe a particular view of a character, and if a rather good fan fiction writer has put forward that view early in fannish history, other fans often follow like sheep. I can think of two good examples of this, where the views are definitely not supported by analysis of canon. (In fact, it is fascinating to put forward such close analysis of canon and have people refuse to believe it despite being unable to produce a single piece of canonical evidence to support their views.)

I am not saying you are wrong in this particular case, but am saying that it is not a general rule.