Portrayal of women in Fantasy Novels...

[Hermes]

Dear Tayana:

I would agree with you, though I suppose that the Tolkien books were written with both adults and children in mind.  Certainly, there are novels (fantasy) that break the mould.  I think Ursula Le Guin writes those.  

Over here, in Ireland, we were brought up on fairy tales and ghost stories.  I thought it was great fun, and I actually have collections of ghost stories.  

I saw J K Rowling being interviewed the other day.  Good for her, I say!  She was quite poor, a single mother, living in pretty dingy quarters, but she lived, and made, the dream.

All the best
Hermes

[Hermes]

Personally, Bella, I think a lot of women are their own worst enemies LOL.  Not a popular view, but there you are. 
Women do these crazy things to impress OTHER WOMEN.  I swear.

Hermes

[Bella_French]

I write fantasy.  I've also been reading it since I was about 8.

Most fantasy, especially Tolkein clones, are intended for boys aged 13-20.  That's often why there is a "formula" type approach to fantasy.  Many of the fantasies that are very popular right are written with a formula, in fact.    The stereotypes don't really bother me.  There are novels out there that break the stereotypes, but you just have to hunt for them.

Fantasy is one of the hardest genres to break into, even though it's very popular.  The things that do break the sterotype often don't sell very well.

Tayana,

How do the publishers know what gender reads Fantasy?  And why write for only half of the potential market, rather than all of it? My guess is just as many women read/ watch fantasy (judging by the general awareness amongst female of LOTR and Tolkien), because they adore it, but they have to endure insulting gender representation due to lack of any other choice.

 

[tayana]

Bella,

I'm not sure why publishers market to that age group, especially when a fair number of women read fantasy.  However, that is the general market.  It's roughly the same market that comics are marketed to.  Historically, that's the fan base.  Publishers aren't interested in demographics or genders.  They are interested in sales.  So because that's the group these things are often popular with, that's the group they market to.  Most of the Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Ravenloft, Warcraft, etc novels are written with a particular formula in mind, and they are marketed to that age group.

Ursual LeGuin has written fantasies very different from the mold.  I particularly liked Mercedes Lackey at one point.  She has some great female characters, but I think I outgrew her work after a while.  Marion Zimmer Bradley, C.J. Cherryh, Andre Norton and there are several younger authors who've followed in the same vein introduced "strong" female fiction.  These are not the Tolkienesque clones however.

[Bella_French]

It makes sense to me, Tayana. The more money at stake, the more certain industries seem rely to on `traditional proven formulas' rather than exploring the modern market place.. A lot of those `old formulas  are from the days before women even had the vote, let alone economic independence. It seems out dated to me.

Hollywood  probably suffers the worst, because of the costs of film making.  Its hard to take risks and adapt to modern day markets, when the old formulas and stereotypes worked. But they still managed to do it throughout all genres, even the traditionally male oriented ones like sci-fi.

I guess publishing is `behind the times'.





 

[Hermes]

Yes, Tayana.  I understand what you are saying.

Many years ago I read Ursula Le Guin"s "Left Hand of Darkness", which was most unusual way in the way it dealt with gender. 

Hermes

[tayana]

"Left Hand of Darkness" is often hailed as a masterpiece in the way it deals with gender and breaks stereotypes.

If you get a chance, check out "Ill Met By Moonlight" by Sarah Hoyt.  It has a great twist on the gender thing.  THere are three books in the series, but the first is the best.