I have hesitated many times with how much I share in the comments and notes on my fics, especially in the political climate right now. I've considered taking fics down and even deleting the notes I've put up.
The reason I haven't is because I want people to know that a lot of this stuff is based in real life. These characters are drawn from people I know. I am a teacher at heart, and while my body may not cooperate any more to allow me in the classroom, there's nothing stopping me from turning this little corner of the world into my own classroom for anyone who wants to explore certain ideas, you know? I have to believe that somewhere, somehow, maybe I've encouraged someone to consider adoption. Maybe I've let someone know that they're more than their sexuality or their gender. Maybe somebody who had a shitty childhood now understands a bit more about how and why, and that there's a big, full life afterward. But mainly, I like to think that something I've written about sparked somebody else's interest to learn more, and because of that, life is better for someone.
The character of Rafael Barba is one that has always been fascinating to me (and obviously a lot of others!). There's something about that guy--he likes to play a clever, smartass exterior, but we all know that just under that is a level of pain that even he never talks about. It's only slightly alluded to. How do we know of his pain? I think it's because we've lived it ourselves in some instances. And of course, there's the fact that a sophisticated, well-dressed, well-spoken MAN can stand in a courtroom and say words like vagina and penis and rape without a snicker, and let the world know that HE gets it. He knows that what this piece of shit did to the victim is illegal and wrong and it hurt. And he's going to speak that truth to anyone who will listen inside that courtroom. So yeah, I love him a little. I'm drawn to passionate advocates, and I tend to be one myself. :-)
I think its extremely important, generally , but for me particularly as you get older, that you constantly challenge yourself to make sure your preconceptions are not getting in the way of your personal development. I don’t enjoy the work of those who use their artistic platform just to lecture me, but work that is exploring ideas and inviting me to explore them also is great, and whilst it is easy to say and harder to do, I think its very important that those questioning voices aren’t silenced by the shouted simplicities of either extreme of opinion in a very polarised time.
Nobody ever convinces anyone to listen to a different idea by clobbering them with it, or by insulting every other position. I know there are times that I tend to go off in my notes, and I'm sure it turns some people off. But I do try to present a variety of sides to complex issues. I hope that I don't come off hugely preachy, particularly in the fic I write, because that is NOT my goal. I really appreciate your comments--they've given me some good stuff to think about!
Comment on The Journey
Ava_now on Chapter 7 Thu 02 Feb 2023 07:51PM UTC
Comment Actions
Kulfold on Chapter 7 Fri 03 Feb 2023 02:26PM UTC
Comment Actions
Ava_now on Chapter 7 Fri 03 Feb 2023 03:17PM UTC
Comment Actions