Who Wrote This Abortion?
By way of Broken Toys (which was by way of Jeff Freeman), an interesting take on what it means to be a writer for games:
Right now, for example, Bioware-Austin is hiring junior-level writers. I’m thinking about applying, because I have a lot of respect for Bioware’s consistent blend of strong action and strong stories. But I’ve read interviews lately in which the guys at Bioware-Canada (who are above Austin in the chain of command, I assume) say the only reason they didn’t write a homosexual romance story for Mass Effect is that they were constrained by time. As a faithful Catholic, I’d have to refuse if someone asked me to write a story condoning homosexual behavior (which is different than homosexual impulses). If it came to that, I wouldn’t be surprised if I was fired. Even if I wouldn’t be expected to write such a story, though, could I choose to be a part of an artistic work which includes advocacy against my own conscience?
As a writer (not for games), this isn’t something I’ve ever had to struggle with. Not because I’m some whorish keyboard for hire who will press keys in mostly grammatically correct combinations for insanely small sums of money—well not just because of that—but because I’ve never been in a position where I was paid to write something I considered personally aberrant. The bulk of my paid writing gigs have been technical. With very few exceptions, heavy machinery manufacturers don’t care much about the sexual orientation of their die-casting infrastructure, and it’s sort of a requirement of the job that anything electrical in nature runs positive to negative (or vicey-versey I forget) if you know what I mean and I think you do. My creative writings have all been my own, so they of course tend to reflect my own personal beliefs and outlook on life. That’s not a conscious decision, just more of a “write what you know” approach. Which would explain my current work on the history of swizzle sticks and other cocktail paraphernalia, tentatively titled “I Hope You’re Happy, They Cut Down The Rain Forests So You Could Have a Miniature Umbrella In Your Drink You Selfish Bastard.” It’s going to be a coffee table book.
It does seem dishonest to me that a writer would constrain themselves to what the Catholic Church thinks about certain issues. Based on this criteria, “hallower” (if that is his real name!) might want to disqualify himself from writing, playing, or being involved in the video game industry at all, given that back in January The Pope himself bloviated:
“Any trend to produce programs and products – including animated films and video games – which in the name of entertainment exalt violence and portray anti-social behavior or the trivialization of human sexuality is a perversion.”
Still, it’s an interesting mental exercise. As a card carrying fetus-hating tree-fornicating granola muncher, would I take a paying gig where my job was to write against my principles? Could I turn Dick Cheney into a sympathetic character who cuddles with puppies instead of shooting them in the face? Could I really bring myself to write a piece about Kirsten Dunst without including the adjectives “skanky,” “whorish,” or “stay-away-from-Toby-you-skanky-whorish!”? It would be a challenge. But unlike “hallower” (I don’t think it’s his real name) I like to think I’m open to the challenge of being “a part of an artistic work which includes advocacy against my own conscience.”
Are there some jobs I would absolutely refuse? Of course. I like to think I’d refuse a writing job from The Swiftboat Veterans for We Hate Cute Bunny Rabbits With Pancakes On Their Heads SO MUCH (or NAMBLA1), but then again it really does make the pancake inedible, so are they really so wrong?
Fencing your imagination with hypothetical boundaries is the cognitive equivalent of an athlete refusing to lift a weight because it’s heavy. Sure you can grow and hone your craft by writing what’s comfortable and what supports your own ideals. Many established writers have never written outside their own biases and ideals and have been perfectly happy and even occasionally highly paid. But while many of these writers never left their own mental yards, it’s doubtful they erected fences to keep themselves from leaving.
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1The Daily Show writers are on strike. I’m just picking up the ball and running.
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I once worked for Raytheon, a rather large defense contractor. When it became obvious that the office I worked in did more than just work on metal foundry software (and especially during the second Gulf War when everyone in the office was so proud that Raytheon made the guidance system for the Patriot missile), I had to have a heart-to-heart with myself. Which was, in retrospect, probably pretty easy … because my heart was already there … but I digress …
Would I quit my job if asked to work on software that would be used to, more or less directly, kill people? I thought about all the excuses first. I wouldn’t be killing people, the people pulling the trigger would. If I didn’t write the software, someone else would. But what it came down to is that I would be involved, at some level, in the process of someone’s life being ended prematurely against their will. And I made the decision then and there that I would quit if it came down to it.
I ended up quitting for other reasons and never was asked to do anything more innocuous than writing software to help the Big Three auto manufacturers with their emissions testing. So while I don’t agree with where he sets his limits for himself (I mean, I could write about killing people all day long!), I can completely support the fact that he has thought about it ahead of time and decided to listen to his conscience.
I already read about this and left a comment (that I won’t repeat) over at Lum’s, but I like the tack you’re taking here, Amber.
As an actor, I always embraced the situations that made me uncomfortable. In my short career I had to rape a woman on stage, kiss another man, murder my father and play a very masculine 14 year old girl. I felt that all these roles helped me grow as a person and I felt more in touch with the collective conscious as a result of trying to feel and think different things. I don’t really know how a writer (of fiction) would approach or encounter situations like that without a specific instruction to write “X”. I enjoyed your idea of a mental yard and the fences people do tend to put around them. So much so that I fully intend to steal it at my next opportunity.
Well, I suppose that it’s good for me that I don’t have any morals, or scruples really. That way I can really whore my self out to whomever wants me to write whatever it is they want me to write.
In all seriousness, there are certainly things that I will not do in real life. But when it comes to writing, be it for books or for games, I see no reason not to strengthen my mental muscles. Content is only relevent in so far as how creative I can be.
Have at it. It came too easily to mind, so I probably stole it from somebody else.
Honestly, I think you’re being too forgiving here, Amber.
This is homophobia, plain and simple.
Does a story about homosexuals necessarily condone homosexuality?
My initial impulse was to post snark about the ridiculousness of being opposed to writing about homosexuality in a positive way because of the Catholic church’s position, but being perfectly comfortable writing in a genre that the Pope has already condemned. But that seems to have been taken care of over at Lum’s and Jeff’s sites.
I thought it was much more interesting to think about how someone would allow their creative process to be regulated and subverted through an organization that has no business being involved in the creative process.
Would you write advertising copy for USB Humping Dogs?
God help me I think I would. *sob*
You know, there is such a thing as alternating current…
Would that be some sort of weird reference to bisexuals?
God created us to be free and do what ever we want as long as we don’t kill people, steal (either property or other people’s husband/wife).
So as long as the above is met, he/she can have sex with a bike and we should not interfere (Unless it is not his bike).
“Oh my god, that man is having relations with a bike!”
“It’s okay, it’s his bike.”
“Oh, well he should still have used a condom.”
“Also, possibly some lubricant. That looks like a painful mess.”
Time for the obligatory “bike-sexual” comment?
But seriously, all you homophobes out there should look at this:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hsFxkWxtGAY
Very nice, very interesting post. What are the bounds of responsibility, especially as it concerns one’s creative contributions? That’s a tough one. It is a good question to ask writing students: what would you not create?
Not only would I write copy for USB humping dogs, I’d do so across a picket line.
I really enjoyed that statement. So much so, that it might enter a paper I write or something I say to someone while I try and make myself appear clever.
Might even use it to pick up a date sometime.
Thanks.
Lol. A true artiste.
Thankfully I am a moral-less whore. Not having any morals means I don’t have to worry about doing something against said morals. It makes life much easier and you don’t hate people so much when you approve, nay even, partake of all you see and hear.
I guess the only thing I pause at is to do is work with reality TV. That is the one thing that just grates against me the wrong way. But still I think my love of money is more then my hate of all that was spawned from the demon seed of Real World. If the price is right I would totally strap on a dildo and give Tila Tequila a what-for.
Agreed with Juju, Andy Havens got the best line.
I remember the first time my friends little dog does that on my foot, and I thought it was trained to give a foot massage.
Toto, feel free to trash his home, but don’t mess with me!