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Ambiguity
https://archive.holyworlds.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=3447		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Leandra Falconwing [ June 9th, 2011, 9:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Ambiguity
Several times in the Theology threads I've seen people talk about needing to make it clear that what a character did was wrong. I think I mostly agree, but I'm wondering if there's a place for times when the reader doesn't really know who is wrong and who is right. The reason this came to mind is a situation that's currently happening in a webcomic/manga I read. While you might be able to analyze the situation and say who was in the right and who was in the wrong (and I'm not sure it'd be easy), it was very emotionally tangled, and I had no idea who I wanted to win. There was no obvious "good guy" and "bad guy," no one who obviously had the right cause. So I'm wondering what people think about that sort of situation in writing; good, bad, or neutral. :)
Author:  Arien [ June 9th, 2011, 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ambiguity
On the other hand, that may just mean that you want them to stop fighting, which I think could work.

For the question, though, I think it depends. I don't think you want to suggest that morality is ambiguous, but I don't think that's what you meant, either. I'd say it depends on the situation. In real life, there are times when it's hard, even impossible, for us to say what the right choice is. You probably want to be careful about it, particularly with major things, but I'd say it doesn't always have to be clear whether something was right or wrong.
Author:  Leandra Falconwing [ June 9th, 2011, 9:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ambiguity
Inesdar wrote:
Honestly, I really dislike any media that portrays morality as ambiguous, though I suppose it's better then portraying what's evil as good (that, I'll admit is worse). Still I like being able to root for some character or other. If there is no-one I want to win, the plot becomes meaningless, because it doesn't matter to me which way it ends up.

It wasn't actually so much portraying morality as ambiguous as it was just a complex situation with very human and flawed characters. (And part of why I couldn't decide who to root for is that I like both characters. :P )

Arien wrote:
On the other hand, that may just mean that you want them to stop fighting, which I think could work.

Which was the case in this instance. :P

Inesdar wrote:
Out of curiosity Lean, what was the name of said Manga?

Wayrift. It happens to be my most favorite webcomic/manga EVER. (Well, so far.) Primary reason I can't wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone is that there's a lot of magic. But I LOVE it.
Author:  Leandra Falconwing [ June 9th, 2011, 9:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ambiguity
I probably didn't word it well. :P I'm not always the most coherent of people. :P
Author:  Seer of Endor [ June 15th, 2011, 9:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ambiguity
I like what I've read here. Good discussion, gang!
I get tired of books/movies whose main message is that morality is all relative, but I'm a fan of Christians willing to admit that for humans there are ambiguous situations.
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