posted
I was at a high school play of Gatsby last night. The director's daughter and some of her friends were sitting behind me when one asked what was up with the big poster. Part of the set were the ever present eyes of my favorite eye doctor. Knowing the story, I knew why they were there, but hearing this little girl ask about it, I realized that there had been no discussion of the Wasteland or the good doctor watching over all. Exposition not being the best thing for a play, those parts were cut out. It made me think of the editing process. Because I knew the story, I knew what this seemingly random thing was. The girl, coming to the story without any prior knowledge, recognized the random thing the poster had become. She could see the hole that I could not. As a writer, I know what goes (went?) in the places that I cut; a new critic doesn't. I must be careful so that even a 9-year-old can understand what's left.
Posts: 823 | Registered: May 2009
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posted
Well, this is a big question. I'm of the opinion that it's OK if a reader doesn't understand everything, as long as the reader feels like he's grasped the thread of the plot.
Imagine a 17th C. Tibetan yak herder brought forward in a time machine. He's shown the ENDER'S GAME movie, dubbed in antique Tibetan. How much would he understand? He'd probably surprise us in some ways; for him space would just be a magical place; the Battle School just a kind of monastery (although he'd be mystified by their being girls there); the Battle Room just a magical combat arena. He'd be totally confused about modern ideas about gender roles, childhood vs. adulthood, and western assumptions about ethics. THOSE THINGS would make the story incomprehensible, not the technology.
For that reason, he might not do any better with a movie *about* a 17th C Tibetan yak herder that was aimed at modern audiences. Much of the movie would appear to be pointless exposition (and often wrong). But the attitudes about people, ethics and culture would likely be just as foreign to him as ENDER'S GAME; possibly more so.
So see to the things that are likely to cause the target audiences trouble following the story. Some things they don't understand probably don't matter. Even a few they're aware of not understanding can be OK, especially if you are going to explain later. As long as the reader doesn't feel *lost*, a little unfamiliarity doesn't hurt.
Posts: 1459 | Registered: Dec 2010
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posted
Hmm, interesting conversation. And probably needed.
Anyway: I agree that readers do not have to get everything to enjoy a book. I have missed things along these lines but I still got the gist of what was happening and why, therefore I enjoyed the book and could recommend it.
Short stories are another matter I think. There is less room for holes-because the readers would miss more of the story, I have missed things in stories that went over my head or that I didn't know. If that happens while critted a story here I can and have asked about what I missed but a reader out there in the wild can't.
Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
I can tell you, with a lot of stuff I read when I was a kid, I was reading well over my level of understanding. Even when it's something I loved, I just "didn't get" it---often not realizing I didn't.
I wouldn't want writers to dumb it down, however. Eventually, with a lot of stuff, I did "get it," so, in the long run, it didn't matter.
Posts: 8809 | Registered: Aug 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Robert Nowall: I wouldn't want writers to dumb it down, however. Eventually, with a lot of stuff, I did "get it," so, in the long run, it didn't matter.
Dumbing things down robs readers of one of storytelling's great pleasures -- the "aha" moment when you piece something unexpected together. But in order for that to happen, the story has to work enough on a superficial level that you bother to think about things that don't quite add up.
Bringing this back to the eyes in the Gatsby set, they don't do anything for anyone who hasn't read the book, but they *do* reward the people who have.
Posts: 1459 | Registered: Dec 2010
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