Are there any real-life issues that fiction SHOULDN'T address?

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

Slander ... but I would write up general incitement also directly after a tragedy. If you're going to feature organizations or groups of people, and make a work of fiction about a very real event look like non-fiction, make it obvious. Otherwise it makes slander somewhat difficult to prove, and it would help stop people using any tragic event as a means to mobilise people against another group of people.

Not only that, but you don't want people using any tragic event as a springboard to mobilize public anger into public violence.

 

[DefunctTheory]

The only thing I can think of is work that's slanderous to a real living person.

Slander ... but I would write up general incitement also directly after a tragedy.

I believe you mean libel.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

I believe you mean libel.

Only if it's written or recorded for broadcast. Not public demonstration. Though yeah, probably libel if we're talking about non-fiction and the most common delivery means.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

-double post-

 

[DefunctTheory]

I believe you mean libel.

Only if it's written or recorded for broadcast. Not public demonstration. Though yeah, probably libel if we're talking about non-fiction.

Isn't all libel, or slander, automatically fiction?

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

Isn't all libel, or slander, automatically fiction?

Not necessarily. For instance, if I'm writing about a real-life event, with real life organizations or people, and just make baseless accusations ... and then claimed 'fiction' later on, it might not necessarily be class as fiction or non-fiction simply on the quality of the work ... but that doesn't not make it defamatory.

For instance, I as a writer might include real people. If they engage in activities that provenly happened is not defamatory (fiction or non-fiction), if I include real people doing things that are not untoward (fiction or non-fiction) that is not defamatory, if I include a real person presented as doing something untoward (fiction or non-fiction), it may or may not class as defamatory.

(Edit) Let's say I give a public speech about a local council member. If I go on a bit of a tangent including things that have happened, and actions of the politician ... both may be true. But the way I present them may reasonably considered as defamatory if there was no plausible connection and it was presented as such. It doesn't necessarily class it as either fiction or non-fiction. Moreover, I can't turn around and later defend myself saying; "I was reciting a fictional story I wrote."

"Last year, there was the death of a lesbian prostitute. We know Ms. [insert name here] is a lesbian and she broke up the same time with her partner, whom she said has a 'temper problem'. Coincidence?"

 

[mecegirl]

The answer to your question is no OP. But the issue is never if fiction should or shouldn't address a topic, but if the writer in question is actually skilled enough to address a topic. There is no point if the writing sucks. The same goes for comedy. Any topic is up for grabs but if the joke ain't funny then it ain't funny.

 

[Winnosh]

Of course not. The entire purpose of Scifi is to deal with social, political and yes obviously scientific subjects to force the audience to confront them when they might not want to. Scifi more than any other genre should push every boundry, if it doesn't then it's doing a disservice to the medium.

 

[1981]

What was said about United 93?

"Too soon." [https://www.google.com/search?q=united+93+too+soon] I wasn't planning on watching it, but since I brought it up, I had to. I still think it was too soon.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

Vivid descriptions of my genitalia.

That would just be voyeuristic and unpleasant, as well as just creepy. Please don't. D:

But... but....

...well, there's a 380,000-word text document going right into the Recycle Bin now....

 

[KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime]

Vivid descriptions of my genitalia.

That would just be voyeuristic and unpleasant, as well as just creepy. Please don't. D:

Already been done by basically every smutty romance novel and full on erotica ever. So it should be addressed, if only because there's a market for it.

OT: The only thing fiction shouldn't address is current popular culture and politics, although shouldn't isn't the same thing as can't... Anything steeped in a particular set of pop culture, or/and era of politics, is just going to date it self in the worst possible way years down the line. This doesn't mean excluding period pieces based on current events, just things that use current trivial, or political non-fiction in fictional context. Also anachronistic usage of pop culture in a future, or past setting. I know trends are cyclical, but the 1980's happened once and it's not going to happen again.

 

[Igor-Rowan]

Look, I am all for freedom of speech and people doing whatever they want with their work of art, but I will say this, just because there are subjects people CAN adress, it doesn't mean they SHOULD. You might be the best writer in the world but with certain subjects like: PTSD, Genocide, Trauma, not-natural Miscarriages, Guilt to the brink of Insanity, death in cold blood, I honestly refuse to pick up any form of media that tackles these subjects. Just because you can write about it doesn't mean they will do it justice due to how taboo these subjects are to begin with, and considering how easy it is to screw up and offend people (and not the new kind of offend, of people thinking they should be offended in the place of somebody else, I am talking about old wounds being opened. We are currently overcoming the un-taboo-ing of subjects like divorce, gay marriage, war and how it affects people, but some other I really don't see being used in media and being shed in a postive light.

TL;DR: No, there aren't, that doesn't mean there are people willing to stand up for them if they're used in fiction.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

You can tackle whatever subject matter you want. Just be prepared for criticism if you misrepresent it or fuck it up. So for pity's sake do your goddamn research. Wanna do a hard bitten modern war drama? Speak to some veterans if at all possible. A historical epic with a dash of fantastical spice? Speak to a professor of history. And so on and so forth.

 

[Trunkage]

also, screw all this Imperium talk. I for one welcome the glorious simplicity of the Hive Mind.

And no, I'm not just saying that because I have a clawed third arm. Not at all.

I, for one, welcome our new chitchinous overlords

Also, I haven't seen too much television Sci-Fi (for aliens) deal with sex organs that aren't shaped like a penis or vagina. Like, there are shows where they are in different body parts (like knees) but not new sex organs.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Spoiler

also, screw all this Imperium talk. I for one welcome the glorious simplicity of the Hive Mind.

And no, I'm not just saying that because I have a clawed third arm. Not at all.

I, for one, welcome our new chitchinous overlords

Also, I haven't seen too much television Sci-Fi (for aliens) deal with sex organs that aren't shaped like a penis or vagina. Like, there are shows where they are in different body parts (like knees) but not new sex organs.

We aren't ready for a new set of sex organs. We're still not over the first set we got.

 

[GrumbleGrump]

Any story where evil xenos, mutants, and traitors are portrayed in a favorable light, or victorious. Such story telling is heresy, and the crafter of such foul insults to the God-Emperor should be put to death, and their works destroyed for the good of the Imperium.

Nothing to fear, eh?

OT: A film about my parents fucking.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Nothing is off limits in fiction.

 

[irish286]

All of them. I'm sick of preachy crap being shoehorned into stories.