Why should a would-be author even bother to concern themselves with Political Correctness?
Let’s use ivory as an example. Would it be okay for an author to write about the brutal killing of Elephants and the Black Market in ivory? Would there even be an audience for such a book?
Similarly, would it be politically incorrect for an author to create a magical object partly made of ivory in a fantasy or magic-realism novel.
Authors have the same problems if they choose to write about race, ethnicity, class, religion, or crimes committed by a particular group - and of course politics.
What should a book contain to be Politically Correct?
Must it have Black, White and Asian characters? Must they all have to be from the same social class and background? Must it have left-wing and right-wing characters? Should there be an equal mix of Heterosexual, Lesbian and Gay characters?
Of course not, that would be incongruous.
A writer should write what he or she knows about and stick two fingers up to those who object. Why some of you may ask? It’s because we live in a democracy in which freedom of speech plays an active part in our daily lives – and long may it do so.
Under good old Joe Stalin, it was the death knell for creative artistic expression. Artists, Writers and Classical composers, were killed for not toeing the communist line. Russian art suffered severely as a consequence.
How dumbed-down and dull books would be if authors concerned themselves with every aspect of Political Correctness.
As much as aspects of Political Correctness have helped to civilise society, it is darkly oppressive at its core. At its worst, Political Correctness represents a virtual gagging filter placed between the thoughts of an individual and the vocal expression of them.
It is a social conditioning designed to seriously limit free expression and exchange of ideas.
The term ‘Political Correctness’ – as both Clare and Victoria have pointed out – has come to have a negative connotation, much as the term ‘Liberals’, passing through the expanded ‘Bleeding-heart Liberals’ (e.g. those who spoke out for Human Rights and went on marches against lynchings of Blacks in the Southern States, aka ‘Nigger Lovers’), has come to have a negative connotation in the U.S.A.
Both terms are used by
a) hard-hearted, selfish egotists
b) right-wingers
to poke fun at those of us who care about the situation of those worse off than ourselves.
So, Mr. Sroka, allow me to rephrase your question, exposing what *I* believe to be the real meaning behind it:
‘Why should a would-be author even bother to concern themselves with the global situation, all its injustices, and those in unfortunate – even dangerous – situations?’
The answer, according to Mr. Sroka, appears to be:
‘An HONEST-TO-GOD author should NOT concern himself with these paltry considerations: they are the very nemesis of art! Victor Hugo’s “J’Accuse” was a load of bollocks. John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes Of Wrath” should have been binned. We should burn Kurt Vonnegut, jr. and Marge Piercy in effigy! Also Sharon Creech! All novels with a message should be thrown on a bonfire, because they are destroying the ART of creative fiction!’
Can anyone – including Mr. Sroka – point out to me where I might have misunderstood him?
Magnolia is still the best selling paint colour. Is that what you want from writing?
You say 'A writer should write what he or she knows about'. What's imagination for, or research, or fantasy?
A thoroughly offensive [and often mildly offensive] piece of writing gets debate going. Is this a bad thing? Just a question not a pov.
Daphne
You say 'A writer should write what he or she knows about' but that's a bit limiting. In practice, don't you write about those things you know and those you can find out about?
So, if you're writing a novel set in modern London, for example, you might well want to put a black family or a Moslem family in your story, not out of political correctness, but because they might have a different viewpoint or a different set of experiences. In other words, their inclusion would enrich your narrative. But, to avoid stereotyping, you would need to do some research.