Temponequestion
New Member
I was creating a fantasy world and I wanted the political system to be based off of beauty pageants but I have no idea how to go about it
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Pageants
- Thread starter Temponequestion
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pmmg
Myth Weaver
Wow, that would be the best show in town.
I would look for a documentary on Miss America pageant, or one similar and watch that. Good luck with the research, I am sure it must be very difficult.
I would look for a documentary on Miss America pageant, or one similar and watch that. Good luck with the research, I am sure it must be very difficult.
TroubadourJust throwing this out there, but the plot would depend a lot on the level of technology that you assume in your story. For instance, one possible plot would be set in a traditional quasi-medieval fantasy world: the comely but street-smart village maiden who enters the beauty competition, more or less reluctantly, and then one day ends up as prime minister (or queen). In that setting, there is plenty of room for satire about political systems in general.
A more modern technological setting might have the beauty contest as a kind of American Idol TV show, with the first prize being absolute power. That kind of tale might be darker (think The Hunger Games).
A more modern technological setting might have the beauty contest as a kind of American Idol TV show, with the first prize being absolute power. That kind of tale might be darker (think The Hunger Games).
OK, so what research have you done so far? Where have you looked? What did you find?
CupofJoe
Myth Weaver
I haven't read the books but seen the films, but I'd look at how the early parts of the Tributes' journey in The Hunger Games. That is basically a beauty/popularity pageant with all the politicking and horse-trading taking place around it.
Prince of Spires
Istar
I think the best place to start is to separate plot (the story you're actually telling) from setting (how the world looks). Then, think of both. Take notes of everything you come up with, but don't be afraid to change stuff as you go along.
Some big questions to consider are: What story do you want to tell? Is the form of government central to the plot or is it just a feature of the world the main character comes into contact with. For instance, is the main character a winner (or loser) in the contest? Or just some random person who happens to travel the world?
How does the system actually work in practice? Can anyone enter, or is it only a specific group of people? If anyone can enter, is it actually a fair contest or is it rigged? Who does the judging? For instance, what if the judges are all former winners? Then you're likely to get a system where a specific group keeps voting for their own, reinforcing their hold on power with each vote. How long do you actually stay in power? 1 year? Or until someone beats you?
What is being judged? Is it looks? Intelligence? Ability to talk and keep people entertained? How much you can make people laugh?
Lastly, why is this system there? Who benefits? And how did it evolve? Why do people accept it?
A nice read is Petition, by Delilah Waan. It's not about a pageant to rule the country, but it is about a contest to get accepted into one of the great houses of the country. And it has some clear paralels with this concept.
Some big questions to consider are: What story do you want to tell? Is the form of government central to the plot or is it just a feature of the world the main character comes into contact with. For instance, is the main character a winner (or loser) in the contest? Or just some random person who happens to travel the world?
How does the system actually work in practice? Can anyone enter, or is it only a specific group of people? If anyone can enter, is it actually a fair contest or is it rigged? Who does the judging? For instance, what if the judges are all former winners? Then you're likely to get a system where a specific group keeps voting for their own, reinforcing their hold on power with each vote. How long do you actually stay in power? 1 year? Or until someone beats you?
What is being judged? Is it looks? Intelligence? Ability to talk and keep people entertained? How much you can make people laugh?
Lastly, why is this system there? Who benefits? And how did it evolve? Why do people accept it?
A nice read is Petition, by Delilah Waan. It's not about a pageant to rule the country, but it is about a contest to get accepted into one of the great houses of the country. And it has some clear paralels with this concept.