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I’m sure this is going to piss someone off, but… I see a lot of “this imagining of the future has SLURS in it!” going around, all the time—as if it’s somehow unconscionable.
I don’t see a future where human beings don’t have nasty things they call each other. You can either coin a neologism or use a current word.
(Except the N-word. Unless you’re Black, leave that alone, for God’s sake.)
It feels like a picky, pearl-clutching thing to slam a piece of speculative fiction for.
Now, granted, you CAN use it badly. Like in Firefly.
Now, granted, you CAN use it badly. Like in Firefly.
Mal’s constant nasty whore jokes at Inara is grating not only because of Whedon’s misogyny but ALSO because it’s not internally consistent with the world.
Much is made of the Firefly future as one where ships aren’t allowed to land on civilized worlds unless they have at least one Companion. Mal’s shitty poking at Inara therefore grates.
It doesn’t take much to aim your criticism at “this slur isn’t internally consistent with the world/is unnecessary” instead of “oh noes, a DIRTY WORD!”
That being said, as a writer I reserve the right to use any word that is applicable, precise, and serves the artistic point I’m making.
I’m sure some people will clutch their pearls and start to bleat “but WHAT IF… WHAT IF… WHAT IF…”
Look, people were shitty thousands of years ago, and they will be shitty tomorrow.
Look, people were shitty thousands of years ago, and they will be shitty tomorrow.
Every utopia we can imagine only says something about the writer’s/artist’s current conditions and culture than it does about the possible future.
Human beings are not going to stop calling each other stupid, shitty, hurtful things.
Ignoring that robs your work of vigor, immediacy, internal consistency, and truth.
Ignoring that robs your work of vigor, immediacy, internal consistency, and truth.
So artists: use the words that apply, and use them WELL. Editors will challenge you on some of them, so be ready to let them go or fight if you have to—but make it a ＊conscious choice＊.
And critics, “Oh no, So-and-so said a NAUGHTY WORD!” is beneath you. Instead, focus on internal consistency.
Intent may not matter. Consistency does.
Intent may not matter. Consistency does.
…and that is my thought for the afternoon.
Now, tea!
Now, tea!
