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| Non-human.... https://archive.holyworlds.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=193 |
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| Author: | wRen [ November 25th, 2009, 9:22 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Non-human.... |
I am new to this forum. Loving it by the way! Anyways, I am wondering how other writers handle writing about cultures that don't exist. I personally come from two completely different cultures, but that doesn't help when you have to think of how a centaur would do things! |
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| Author: | Neil of Erk [ November 25th, 2009, 9:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Non-human.... |
I think the first thing to do is think of the natural limitations and abilities of the persons who make up the culture you are developing. This is especially important when dealing with such creature as centaurs, considering how much they differ in proportions and shape from humans. Another thing is history. In America, for example, many of our allusions and expressions, as well as art and literature, are derived from our history. Or think of the effect history has had on British culture. Heraldry and symbolism play a great role in England's art and literature. Also consider the language. Languages naturally place certain restrictions on what a person can and cannot say, or what they should and should not say. The are other factors, such as physical and emotional environment, and current events that often take a subtle but important role. |
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| Author: | Zoe M. Scrivener [ November 26th, 2009, 11:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Non-human.... |
I made my centaurs like to be symmetrical. They always have twins, a boy and a girl, and their houses are cube-shaped and dug into the side of a hill. I don't really know if you have to go too in depth. Even little things like what I did can help make it interesting. |
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| Author: | wRen [ November 26th, 2009, 11:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Non-human.... |
Thankyou! This is all very helpful! |
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| Author: | PrincessoftheKing [ November 27th, 2009, 2:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Non-human.... |
Sometimes you can borrow form a real race of people as well. One example is in the Chronicles of Narnia, when C.S. Lewis borrowed from Middle Eastern culture for the Calormens. That always makes it a little easier, but personally I like making up my cultures. 
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| Author: | Ana Mimetes [ November 27th, 2009, 10:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Non-human.... |
I think part of the fun of writing is being able to make thing up about what people and cultures in your story do |
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| Author: | Willow Wenial Mimetes [ November 28th, 2009, 4:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Non-human.... |
hmmm. I have never even really thought much about making up my cultures. Usually, I focus on the geography of the region. They only have a distinct culture if they've been generally isolated from other people and races. Otherwise, I work cultural diffusion into the works, so that the people are all fairly similar. |
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| Author: | wRen [ November 29th, 2009, 6:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Non-human.... |
I get the whole C.S. Lewis thing. But in my realm, there are no humans at all. |
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| Author: | PrincessoftheKing [ November 29th, 2009, 6:30 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Non-human.... |
Oh, okay. That takes a little more creativity.
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| Author: | Zoe M. Scrivener [ November 29th, 2009, 6:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Non-human.... |
Radisana wrote: I get the whole C.S. Lewis thing. But in my realm, there are no humans at all. Yay for realms that are human-less, except for the main characters! Riocht doesn't have humans either, but the other countries in my world do. |
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| Author: | Lady Eruwaedhiel [ December 7th, 2009, 9:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Non-human.... |
PrincessoftheKing wrote: Sometimes you can borrow form a real race of people as well. One example is in the Chronicles of Narnia, when C.S. Lewis borrowed from Middle Eastern culture for the Calormens. That always makes it a little easier, but personally I like making up my cultures. Tolkien also created the Rohan Horse-Lords almost entirely from Anglo-Saxons. I've got several non-human cultures in my world, (not very well developed yet) and I'm still working on them. There are at least three: A race of smiths in the mountains with silver eyes A race of tree-dwellers in a forest with gold eyes and night-vision A race of horse-breeders living on a large plain |
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| Author: | Evening L. Aspen [ December 8th, 2009, 3:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Non-human.... |
I like to start with a real-world culture and then tweak it, change things around and add little details. For instance, one culture in my world is a lot like Arabic/Middle Eastern culture. The people look similar (darkish skin, dark hair, brown or green eyes, etc.) I usually have one culture that I make up all on my own. Also, like others have said, think about the history of the people and you can draw from the culture from there. (eg: holidays, etc.) |
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