At 4:57 PM -0700 5/04/06, whimsy wrote:
> the lack of cultural context dosent always break a fanfic, it can
> make it better though.
[snipping a lot of details which, while interesting, aren't really
relevant to the story under discussion]
I also think that details like climate and foods which can be easily�
checked should be accurate. Anyone showing a blizzard in Las Vegas�
as normal winter weather or a Roman emperor eating corn (maize) is�
showing a disregard for the readers and for their story. If they�
don't bother to find out that Las Vegas is in a desert with winter�
temperatures rarely below freezing or that corn is native to the�
Americas and would have been unknown to the Romans, then they are�
saying that they don't care enough about the story to put in the�
minimal effort even for the small things which help establish the�
backdrop. So why should the readership?
Showing a Roman emperor eating maize would indeed be incorrect (barring
an AU story in which, for example, Rome had conquered the Americas).
Showing a Roman emperor eating corn, however, would be perfectly valid.
"Corn" is a term that has historically applied to a great many grains.
(See Wikipedia.) For example, in the "I, Claudius" books by Robert Graves,
the author speaks of building a new harbour for ships carrying corn to Rome.
The term "corn" is historically accurate in the context in which it's used;
but the grain in question was probably wheat.
But be that as it may. On to your comments about the story.
Regarding my specific complaint in my earlier post, abortion and�
morning-after treatments for rape are available in all countries with�
an advanced system of medical care and even in many countries with�
lesser developed health care (I did an internship in Romania a few�
years ago). I do not understand why so few fanfics involving rape�
that are set in modern Japan consider this.
Your objection seems to be that Akane was raped, got pregnant, and didn't
have an abortion although one was likely available; therefore the story
is crap. This objection is ridiculous.
Consider the following:
-- There are a great many reasons why a woman might choose not to have an
abortion even when one is readily available. Personal beliefs or
preferences, or family pressure, are among the most obvious but far from
the only ones.
-- The fact that Japanese society as a whole might be flexibly inclined
toward the issue does not mean than any given individual will be thus
inclined. An individual is not the society.
Bear in mind that the matter of the rape, and the issue therefrom, was
raised in the very last paragraphs of the chapter. The author might have
strong and valid story reasons why Akane's had the baby. We don't know,
because the story hasn't got that far. Judging from the amount of shit
it's had shovelled on it, there's a good chance that the author will be
disinclined to try any further.
The story does indeed have problems, language and otherwise. But from the
evidence given thus far, lambasting it because Akane hasn't done what you'd
prefer her to have done is premature at best.
Regards,
Angus