Stereotypes

by Alice Cattley
2nd July 2013

Do you think that writers have a responsibility to dispel stereotypes?

I think that sometimes various stereotypes - perhaps those linked to gender most of all - are quite hard to avoid; there would be a lot of great books that wouldn't be the same without them. Obviously, though, you don't want to have characters that end up as two dimensional clichés.

What are you thoughts?

Replies

My short answer is 'No'

For me, it's whatever fits the story.

I do think it's good to be creative though, and think of something new.

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Maurice
Northmore
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Maurice Northmore
09/07/2013

My short answer is 'No'

For me, it's whatever fits the story.

I do think it's good to be creative though, and think of something new.

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Maurice
Northmore
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Maurice Northmore
09/07/2013

Hi Alice, I think that the word stereotype is used to often by writer as a way of just labeling or branding a type of person.

we all try to bring our characters to life and try to project them as near as we can to reality, so if we as writers are to try dispel the Stereotype. Then I think we as the general public should start to change how we view people. It is so easy to pigeonhole people and I am sure that there is not one person out there that has not "Judged a book by Its cover." You only have to look at the Susan Boyle TV Clip to see what I mean.

We as society in general need to stop being so judgmental, If we could ever achieve this then the stereotype would also gradually disappear. (I hope)

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Gordon
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03/07/2013