Rape in fiction

[Just Crouton]

Gail Simone made a post about it on her tumblr.

 

 

I’ve been holding off on answering this for a number of reasons. The first was I wanted to give it due thought. The second was that I’m pretty sure I’ll end up offending someone, somewhere, and despite what may be perceived as a reputation for not caring about that kind of thing, I actually do, quite a bit. 

 

And third, it was a busy, busy week.

 

I’m not entirely up-to-speed on all the current video game releases and news, but I’m assuming you’re referring to the new Tomb Raider game that Square Enix is releasing, made by Crystal Dynamics. I’m also not up-to-speed on everything that’s been said about it, so my information is based more on heresay than anything else, but my understanding is that there’s certainly an active threat of sexual assault against Lara in the new game, though whether or not she is raped, I don’t know.

 

In the interests of full disclosure, I played almost all the Eidos Tomb Raider games, and I played and liked the first of the Crystal Dynamics ones. I haven’t played the second.

So, with all this in mind…

 

Fiction - regardless of its form, and video game narrative, I think we all agree, is fiction - at its best, reflects truths about reality. Fiction educates, even if it does so obliquely, or behind the cover of story. Fiction, ideally, asks questions that provoke thought and attempts to answer those questions posed.

 

Rape is a reality. Ignoring it empowers it. Diminishing it empowers it. Fetishizing it empowers it. Ignorance of it empowers it, and we just finished an election season here in the U.S. where that ignorance was on spectacular, non-ironic, display.

 

So, as if all the above wasn’t clear, I am very much speaking from my own opinion. Do I think rape has a “place” in fiction? Absolutely, yes. It’s a very specific place, I feel. It’s a place that must illuminate it as the crime against body and soul that it is. It’s a place where its weight and horror must be acknowledged, never diminished. It’s a place where it must be recognized as the evil it is. 

 

Yes, certainly, there are characters where being a rape survivor is a crucial element of who they are. For some, it is even their core motivation. In the right hands, written with the proper thought and care and - in my opinion, and most crucially - honesty, yes, there is a place.

 

But as a short-hand for “justifying” why a character - specifically a female character - is who she is, or does what she does? I hate it. I’m inherently very suspicious of it, to the point of active hostility. I am leery of the prurient interest, and in the case of Lara specifically, I cannot escape feeling that is hard at work here. I read a quote where one of the developers, I believe, claimed that putting Lara in this position, under this threat, would make the player “want to protect her.” I found that both condescending and remarkably ignorant. Having not played the game, I can’t speak with any authority on it, but I find it hard to believe that was their motive to begin with.

 

I am very, very tired of rape being used as an explanation for why a woman is “strong.” As if an explanation is required. I find that insulting as hell, frankly. And I’m a guy.

 

Long answer is long. Getting longer.

 

Characters - good characters - are never any one thing. A rape survivor should never be defined by the crime committed against him or her. But the nature of the crime is so vile, in my opinion, that incorporating it into any character demands it be given the full weight and consideration it deserves. Anything less, as I said at the start, diminishes the crime. That’s irresponsible writing, at the very least, and irresponsible writing is, to me, bad writing.

 

There’s more to say, but I’ve said enough for now, I think.

 

Hope this answers the question.

 

Original post: http://gailsimone.tumblr.com/post/41180898251/ruckawriter-ive-been-asked-to-make-my-answer

 

Thoughts on the topic?

 

[Dr. Cakey]

What the smart person said.

 

The only thing I could possibly add is this:

 

You know how programming documentation talks about "powerful" functions? They'll usually say something like "function x is difficult to use but very powerful" or "function x is a very powerful function, so be careful when you use it". When a powerful function is used correctly, it solves all your problems. When you screw up, it crashes the computer or deletes the system registry.

 

rape-in-fiction is a powerful function. It is the powerful function. When you use it, you're editing sys32.exe in realtime, with no backup. It has a specific range of uses, in a specific range of settings, at a specific level of energy intensity. As a tool, it's a scalpel - no, a micro-incision laser. Unless used with meticulous care within its specific range of usefulness, it becomes offensive, absurd, and - on occasion - hilarious.

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Interesting topic.

 

I seem to recall from GCSE English that one of the (maybe the) first novels to ever touch on the subject of rape was 'Tess of the D'Ubervilles' by Thomas Hardy, the whole scene being described in a very vague way, but the outrage was pretty incredible. How dare you acknowledge the existance of this thing? And so on.

 

I pretty much agree with everything in the opening post. It's not something that can be ignored because it might upset a few people or whatever. Very few stories are all fluffy kittens and rainbows.

 

If they were they wouldn't be very interesting.

 

It's not something I've ever written about, it is certainly something that should be handled with extreme care and consideration, but I would if it felt right for the story. It has a place and shouldn't be thrown in for the sake of it, but if appropriate for character development then yes, I can't see why not.

 

Also I agree with the opening post that "the lead woman is cold and won't open up to people BECAUSE SHE WAS RAPED AS A CHILD" is overdone.

 

Ps: Lara Croft to be raped? That seems... out of place?

[Dr. Cakey]

Ps: Lara Croft to be raped? That seems... out of place?

Old news. I'm surprised you didn't hear about it.

 

From what I recall, she doesn't get raped, but there is attempted rape. It's all part of the GRITTY REBOOT where it's a REALISTIC PORTRAYAL of how she became...whatever she is. I've never touched a Tomb Raider game in my life.

 

Of course, if they were making a fr srs gritty reboot, she have to be grizzled ex-soldier who spends her days drinking and brooding over her dead wife. Husband. Wife. Whatever. It's a joke. Run with it.

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Old news. I'm surprised you didn't hear about it.
 
From what I recall, she doesn't get raped, but there is attempted rape. It's all part of the GRITTY REBOOT where it's a REALISTIC PORTRAYAL of how she became...whatever she is. I've never touched a Tomb Raider game in my life.
 
Of course, if they were making a fr srs gritty reboot, she have to be grizzled ex-soldier who spends her days drinking and brooding over her dead wife. Husband. Wife. Whatever. It's a joke. Run with it.

 

Eh, I have nothing to do with today's video games. The last Tomb Raider game I played was Revelation. My console is a PS2. The last game I bought for it that wasn't on offer/platinum/dirt cheap having been really old and was actually kindof a new release was.... um... *checks through games*... probably FF12. Which was crap.

 

She should have been treated as a war hero but has been cast aside, never recognised by the government or getting the parade she deserved, having seen all her friends killed in battle, her wife or husband having been knifed (and raped) by someone who turns out to be the main antagonist in the end, having to make ends meet by doing community work where she is spat on my the kids with their trainers and music systems...

[Catterjune]

In art, I think nothing should ever be off-limits.

However in practice, I often times employ the old saying "Just because you can doesn't mean you should". This is one of those times.

[Not-so-Radiant Arin]

[quote]Do you find that every character seems to be rapping out profanity in your novel? If so, it's not realistic. Not everyone curses. If one character has to curse, let him. But don't throw in obscenities to sound modern or liberated. This is not a novel about you. It's about a bunch of other people.

 

The same goes with sex scenes (which may or may not be counted or conducted as rape). They're not obligatory. But if used, should they be explicit or suggested as going on in some other room, out of sight, out of hearing? You can do either, but it must seem natural. Is explicit sex central to the plot? It could be in the case of a rape or a seduction scene, but even here, different writers would use different methods.[/quote]

 

tl;dr: If it's central to the plot, okay, otherwise, don't do it.

[Darth Revan of the Sith]

In art, I think nothing should ever be off-limits.

I quite very much agree. I tend to not have any moral fibers when I write. I usually write as if everything is permitted. Usually though I keep the really estranged writings to myself and release the ones I find safe enough for viewing. I wish I cared any bit about this, but I don't.

 

If rape is portrayed that way in media, fine whatever. If chaos ensues because of it, fine whatever. These things happen all the time and I find protests and boycotts like this to be inherently boring.