A recent post by Dene Stark got me thinking about the ethics in writing and so I wanted to post the question: Is there content that simply should NOT be written about? And why or why not?
"13 Reasons Why", Season 7 of "Walking Dead", "Sinister", and other ventures into the most disturbing possible thoughts on humanity - do you draw a line as to where ethics and morality should prevent you from crossing? Is there a reason to go as far into the darkness as you can think - and then give that horror to others? Do you feel a responsibility for the reactions to your "art"? Is this in any way beneficial to an audience? And is there an end game or are you just spewing your own dark insides?
Maybe this was far too many questions in one post. Sorry about that. (feel free to pull this one, Mods) My degrees are in Psych and Philosophy - so I'm always wanting to hear from others on these subjects.
3 people like this
I would never write something that excused victimisation. Cruel and exploitative people do not need a way of making their obscene behaviour morally neutral.
As a writer who sometimes explores those dark grey areas, I feel there is a point where it can be taken too far. At the same time I think that if something is a real part of life and we can accept that the stories are published by the press, the boundaries of expression in film are blurred by what is acceptable in actuality media. Is it okay for a documentary to be explicitly dark but it's wrong for a fictitious film do the same? I ask that question because even I don't have the answer.
This question has come up on other sites and my response is, there is no such thing as too dark, there is an audience for every film made. One man's "dark" is another man's "thrill".
Personally, I try to write with entertainment in mind and I know some will think it's lame and yet some will even think it's dark. If you're happy with what you write then that's all that should matter.
I'm with Pierre. No limitations are appropriate IMO. Artists are here to educate and enlighten as well as entertain, to reflect society, not whitewash it.
1 person likes this
It's entertainment. If your story, real or fictional, becomes a movie, published book, TV series, the audience will tell you if they like it or not with $$$.
1 person likes this
I wrote a short called First Kiss, very dark even by my standards (I'm a Horror fan/writer) and I sat on it for nearly six months before finally making it public.
It had a lot of positive feedback from other writers and it was snapped up by a producer almost immediately.
My 'too dark' (almost), was just right for someone else... like Dan says, it's entertainment.
Good questions. I thought about it in the past. The real question is do you need to push it so hard? And if yes, why? I hate the SAW movies, I find that horror unnecessary. I go to the movies to identify with human beings, and there is nothing human on that. I might be naive, but it's like when you watch news that use sensationalism to get more views. That's not journalism, it's a shortcut from mediocrity.
Depends on what people understand as dark. Does dark=reality or it is just gore. Reality will always be worse than fiction. 13 reasons why shows bullying and how it can evolve. That is not taking too far as it actually happens, it resonates because people have experience it and tv or movies are a way to experience or at least show that something is real
Complete nonsense of the most damaging variety, bordering on Satanic Panic hysteria. Most, if not all, American cinema outings (including TV and movies) depict honorable heroes with valorous intent who defy The Odds to beat The Big Bad, yet the world's no better-off; no viewer is inspired to become a better person just because they see it depicted in film, nor are they negatively influenced by such.
While the nonsense Hollywood spews today is little better than your average TV commercial, it is certainly not designed to entice viewers into committing crime or violence. Innumerable scholastic studies prove this, Senator Kefauver.
As stated, that's just "putting meat in the seats," and is no better than any TV commercial. To that point though, I don't know a single wisecracking hitman or female assassin - in fact, I don't know any assassins - so no one's being drafted into that line of work by movies or TV shows... unless you mean soldiers - also paid murderers - and the proliferation of pro-war propaganda spewed incessantly by all media outlets. I'll take 1000 Fight Clubs to every Black Hawk Down; only one of those has directly lead to the murder of innocents, and it isn't the one with the wise-cracking antihero.
You pay me standard research wages and I'll be glad to help you out with those elusive studies. Otherwise, I'm done discussing the matter - other than to point-out that the longer you tread the same ground, the deeper the hole for yourselves you dig. Now I'm done. :)
Light or dark....I'd go as far as I felt I needed to go with my story.
I don't really think about it. My mind tends to be pretty twisted so I just run with it. I've yet to have any executive tell me my work is too dark/bizarre.
2 people like this
Well, I have mixed thoughts and feelings about this... I absolutely, without doubt, am a proponent of freedom of speech and freedom of creative expression. Likewise, we all have freedom of choice. We can choose to support something or view something. Or not. However... With that freedom comes some responsibility, yes??? And... Therein lies the conflict of varying ideologies. What does that mean? And how should that be addressed? Who determines what? You could say that the rating system does decide somewhat, or that it simply acts as a content alert system. Something I appreciate as both a parent and as an audience member. But I also think there's a relationship between content creators (TV series/movies/filmmakers/etc) and the general public that can't be ignored. It's rather intertwined, symbiotic; film reflects society and society often reflects film. So how we address a subject matter may, and sometimes does, affect culture. It certainly allows creatives to put their personal opinion or perspective or commentary or approach upon a subject and then push it out into the world. Thus inciting public debate and possible controversy. Of course healthy public debate or discussion over issues is always a good thing. But when tackling really tough, complex subjects, like suicide, it is concerning when mishandled (of course opinions vary about that too). Case in point: just today our school district sent out a warning email regarding "13 Reasons Why." Its purpose, to inform parents about what their kids are watching. That the show, centered around teens and suicide, includes the topics of rape, underage drinking, sexism and survivor’s guilt. It also included information on what to do if you have a teen at risk. That there's also concern among mental healthcare providers and support groups who deal with mental illness, depression and suicide on a day-to-day basis about the show's use of suicide as a means of inflicting passive-aggressive revenge onto others. Hence the warnings. So..... there you go. While "13 Reasons Why" is compelling and has incited public discussion, it has also raised red flags. So it seems the best way to protect freedom of creative expression, and be responsible is: awareness. Know the content and make your own informed decisions. As far as those of us writing and creating... How and what we choose to create should be up to us as individuals to decide. Well, that... And the rating system. LOL! :) Happy writing!
November 8, 2016, all rules on decency are gone.
Seriously tho, I think Craig nailed it. You can write about people being victimized but any plot that attempts to EXCUSE this behavior is poor form.
I think the problem with the life imitating art scenario (good or bad), is that it takes responsibility from the individual and places it on the film, the book, the painting.
If you consider the number of people who watch a brutal film, and those who then act upon what they have seen, well the numbers are zero to infinitesimally small.
Were brutal/dark films dangerous then we should have every person who works for the film classification boards (BBFC in the UK, MPAA in US) under house arrest just to be on the safe side as they watch ALL the really bad stuff in its uncut form... they must be getting influenced - right?
And if you take it to a logical conclusion then the first work that we should censor/ban is the Bible, as the brutality it has inspired is truly breathtaking in scope and volume. From religious wars to serial killers quoting scripture.
BUT... I don't believe that the work is to blame, I think individuals, with mental health issues are to blame, well that's my opinion anyway ;-)
Hey, if you are alreadyin Hell. You have to walk through it. As long as it serves the story and not some psychoanalysis needed on your part from another psycho-cologist. Go dark and go for it, and serve your story like a plate of chipped teeth.
1 person likes this
I really appreciate all of this input - thanks to you all for the responses. I know it's an ongoing discussion that has been active since the birth of theater and I really like the back and forth. Please feel free to keep the discussion going. I think any writer that approaches social boundaries has to deal with this question with every keystroke. Thanks again for all the contributions! It keeps my mind cranking while writing and that's what keeps me going. Cheers!
Cool discussion. I kind of take the position of Arron Sorkin. He was interviewed and asked about the West Wing. His comment was that the opinions and actions of his characters reflected the characters. I found when trying to revise my story, I knew my characters and in some moments, they acted different than I wanted. Organic story telling is truly that so I do not judge. I write horror but don't blame it on societal ills. Good or Bad images inspire people on that wave length. I try to avoid writer's block but being judgemental may lead one down that path, especially about ones writing. Funny but maybe stories take courage to tell. That's why I love horror, it's all about exposing those dirty little truth that sociegy tries to ignore. Saw wasn't preachy but it had a theme that scared the hell out of me. Be good folks or the Saw will get you! LOL
Fiona Faith Ross i loved BB too. Have you watched Shameless? It's my current favorite and has a lot of the same kind of complexities in the characters. It's also very dark, funny and sad all at once (just like life, I suppose!)
Movies like Cannibal Holocaust and A Serbian Film are where I draw the line, personally. I don't even like the Hostel series, nor any of the "Torture Porn" -type stuff. I liked Saw, though (the first one) - I know that's often included in the TP sub-genre, but it was more straightforward Horror to me.