Dr Steve Brule
Dreamer
This could have also gone into the writing questions section but felt it was more of a world building theme.
I have been reading (technically listening to the audiobook) of the Journey to the West. It is a really great story and I admit I have always liked Asian culture history. I have messing around with ideas for a story set in a fictional world with an eastern touch to it. My question is how does one go about creating a spin off culture without it being offensive/bad?
First let me state that I am not a writer that is afraid of upsetting certain groups of people. No my story might not have race X in it, no I won't add them just because some people are offended by it. When I mention it being offensive, I mean it in a way that doesn't seem "cheap" in relation to the actual culture. I can't really put it into words that well but I hope you understand what I'm getting at. It's not that anything in my book would be racist, but rather maybe a lot of bad portrayals of Eastern beliefs/society.
Take this for example: Suppose I use a mixture of Chinese and Japanese names. I see two potential problems:
1) Mixing Chinese and Japanese elements together
2) Asian names are usually combinations of characters that complement each other to form a whole name (think of kanji) If I just make a name because it sounds good, suppose either the prefix or suffix has real meaning.
I think if I were of Asian origin if these 2 things would throw me off, or at least chuckle at them. Or suppose I were to watch a film about Egypt. Just because there are pyramids, pharaohs, and Egyptian themes, the portrayal could be way off from how that society actually lived/functioned; either through lack of depth or at the opposite side, over emphasis.
Does anyone have any experience with this? If so, can you give me some advice and perhaps some examples of your own work?
I have been reading (technically listening to the audiobook) of the Journey to the West. It is a really great story and I admit I have always liked Asian culture history. I have messing around with ideas for a story set in a fictional world with an eastern touch to it. My question is how does one go about creating a spin off culture without it being offensive/bad?
First let me state that I am not a writer that is afraid of upsetting certain groups of people. No my story might not have race X in it, no I won't add them just because some people are offended by it. When I mention it being offensive, I mean it in a way that doesn't seem "cheap" in relation to the actual culture. I can't really put it into words that well but I hope you understand what I'm getting at. It's not that anything in my book would be racist, but rather maybe a lot of bad portrayals of Eastern beliefs/society.
Take this for example: Suppose I use a mixture of Chinese and Japanese names. I see two potential problems:
1) Mixing Chinese and Japanese elements together
2) Asian names are usually combinations of characters that complement each other to form a whole name (think of kanji) If I just make a name because it sounds good, suppose either the prefix or suffix has real meaning.
I think if I were of Asian origin if these 2 things would throw me off, or at least chuckle at them. Or suppose I were to watch a film about Egypt. Just because there are pyramids, pharaohs, and Egyptian themes, the portrayal could be way off from how that society actually lived/functioned; either through lack of depth or at the opposite side, over emphasis.
Does anyone have any experience with this? If so, can you give me some advice and perhaps some examples of your own work?