Submitted by justkeepbreathing94 t3_11tyny7 in books
deeeeeeeeeevo t1_jcp81mr wrote
Reply to comment by rasputin415 in Do you ever look up the authors you're reading to get to know them better? by justkeepbreathing94
I would say often times novels aren’t reflections of the authors. Just because someone wrote something doesn’t mean that’s what they truly believe. But for sure sometimes that is the case! Separate art from the artist
rasputin415 t1_jcpp6jw wrote
You cannot separate art from the artist. Go write something and tell me you aren’t in it. Even if everything is made up, it’s based on what they believe or as satire. From HP Lovecraft to JRRT to Brandon Sanderson; from Jane Austen to Mary Shelley to Ursula K Le Guin. Art is the very embodiment of an artist.
deeeeeeeeeevo t1_jcpquyo wrote
I understand where you’re coming from. But people seem to forget people can be a product of their times and are entitled to their own opinions! HP love craft for example, died in 1937, so his thoughts and opinions were very much a product of his time. I don’t think any negative opinions he held takes away from the magnificent work he produced.
If I were to write a story, and it involved a marginalized group being targeted, that doesn’t mean I’m racist, it might just be an aspect that I believe it important in the story and could be seen as interesting.
I understand where you’re coming from but sometimes shitty people make amazing art!
rasputin415 t1_jcprjf7 wrote
You can find people in those same eras who aren’t giant pieces of trash, just like you can today. The whole “product of their time” line is such utter bullshit. He chose to write racist shit because he was a racist. You should know the context of his life before reading. You should know he’s a raging bigot. Same with Marian Zimmer Bradley, same with any artist.
rasputin415 t1_jcprvpt wrote
Sure. Sometimes shitty people make art. And the art has shitty views in it. If you can’t see that when you read it, you should do some soul searching. I’m not saying don’t read them. But you should know their worldview.
deeeeeeeeeevo t1_jcpskz8 wrote
I respect your opinion but you’re using the luxury of hindsight in this situation. There’s always gonna be good and bad people who don’t share your opinion! That’s a matter of life, and yes you 100% have the choice to not read or indulge in these peoples work. BUT saying product of their time is bullshit is somewhat ignorant, given that it was the norm back in the day, whether you like it or not.
Now I am not a racist or a bigot in any sense, I just believe there’s more than one side to these arguments and using the luxury of hindsight is somewhat ignorant. Nowadays, there’s no place for people to be a racist in any sense, but back then, it wasn’t frowned upon.
rasputin415 t1_jcpu0ua wrote
Lol. People are racist all the time now, what the fuck are you talking about. And also, saying someone is “a product of their time” IS bullshit. Mark Twain was an ardent abolitionist, and he was alive during the civil war. Ffs.
deeeeeeeeeevo t1_jcpujbx wrote
I didn’t say people aren’t racist? I said there’s no place for people to be racist nowadays. Always two sided to a coin dude, whether you like it or not
rasputin415 t1_jcpz9pb wrote
I would love an example of an author you think isn’t in their work.
deeeeeeeeeevo t1_jcq001c wrote
James SA Corey (Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) wrote the expanse series and that deals with lots of racism and marginalization. Scott lynch from the gentlemen bastard series, lots!
rasputin415 t1_jcq2apx wrote
Talking about or having something in your writing doesn’t mean you believe in that thing. But how the author treats it, does. What happens to the racists in the Expanse? How are they portrayed?
You’re literally making my point.
rasputin415 t1_jcq3phz wrote
Scott Lynch literally writes about stealing from the rich. Like. Come on.
rasputin415 t1_jcpwwk0 wrote
I know what you said and I’m telling you you’re wrong. What do you think all this anti-“woke” stuff is? JFC.
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