[personal profile] khiemtran
2) Courageous self-sacrifice

This usually comes in somewhere in any story I write. It is easy to overdo, or do badly, most notably in the new Doctor Who series where it often happens with little build-up or consequence. In many ways, it's a easy way to paint heroism, in the same way that endangering a child is an easy way to show villainy.

On the other hand, done well, it really does define for me what heroism means. It gives my characters a chance to speak with actions rather than words, even if the actions are sometimes a little clichéd.

It also works quite well when the characters themselves aren't aware that their actions are courageous, or if they believe that they're acting for pragmatic or non-heroic reasons.

Date: 2007-08-12 09:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sciamanna.livejournal.com
I agree with this too. And especially the last bit: "unconscious" heroism can be one of the most powerful things in a story. (As well as saving it from the problems of "overdone" heroism that you mention above.)

Profile

khiemtran

August 2021

S M T W T F S
1 234567
891011121314
1516 1718192021
22232425262728
293031    

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jan. 25th, 2026 11:46 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios