Write Early, Write Often…Write Something!

Teresa Fannin, reader, writer, gardener, chocolate fan & tea drinker

Category: Art & Craft (Page 12 of 17)

understanding evil

02/22/2013 /

I always thought it was sad that some people wanted to ban Harry Potter for being about witchcraft, when in truth, it was really about the triumph of love (the good in us) over hate (the evil in us). It seemed so clear that Harry’s Aunt and Uncle were denying Harry everything because of one of the seven deadly sins, envy, they were the haters, accepting the evil in the world.

It’s easy to see the battle played out in Harry Potter. Or in the Chronicles of Narnia. Or in The Lord of The Rings. Yes, battle between good and evil is a basic story concept. But, it seems we have a huge problem in really dealing with evil. Many of the stories dealing with evil are in the SciFi/Fantasy  genre. It’s like we can’t battle evil, except with the use of magic. In Harry’s terms, pity us poor muggles. So, do we truly believe in evil?  M. Scott Peck’s Book, The People of the Lie, discusses human evil as a concept totally alien to the science of psychiatry. We have all sorts of euphemisms developed to excuse or evade the idea of evil. But that still doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, it just means it terrifies us. Another good reason it is a great basic story concept.

 

a basic dilemma

02/20/2013 /

Conflict between good and evil is a basic dilemma. Most of us would say we’d go with the good. But evil can look so good and easy. I’ve always thought that the easy is what makes it bad, that we must struggle for the real good. In most conflicts, and in most books, it always seems that good and evil are equal. That there is a possibility that evil could win.

This week’s gospel, The Temptation of Jesus, was all about that basic dilemma, between God and the devil. And the devil treats God as an equal. But God is not fooled.  For me, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis,  come to mind.  I read C.S. Lewis on a regular basis, not every Lent but many of them, since I was in high school. It is a very short read, can be disconcerting and challenging and should be better known. The letters are about the faith side of evil.  Written during what Lewis calls The Second German War, the book was published in installments in The Guardian and received a ‘like it’ or hate it’ sort of reception. Through the letters, the book takes on the idea that good and evil are equal. In a forward to the paperback edition, written by Lewis, he said the most common question is “Do you believe in the Devil?” And he answers, ‘Now, if by “the Devil” you mean a power opposite to God and, like God, self-existent from all eternity, the answer is certainly No.” He says he believes in devils, like he believes in angels. These are angels who have become depraved, enemies of God, fallen angels.

In the letters, Screwtape is a supervising demon counseling his nephew, Wormwood, a junior tempter, who is on Earth. He asks, in his first letter,  “But are you not being a trifle naïf?” Screwtape is anything but and, throughout the book, his letters deal with helping Wormwood tempt his patient toward Our Father Below. For Screwtape, the Enemy is God, and definitely much less a supreme being. But for us, reading the book, we know that these devils, definitely with a small ‘d’, have chosen to follow one who is not the opposite of God, but one created by God, who is less than God.

 

 

 

 

Good and Evil

02/18/2013 /

There is no more basic story concept than the battle between good and evil. There are some classic SciFi/Fantasy novels dealing with good vs evil. Probably the one that comes easiest to mind is Harry Potter, who took seven novels to defeat Lord Voldemort. And, as in most good stories, it is Harry’s constant temptation toward evil that makes for the primary conflict of the story. But there are others, Frodo and the Ring and Aslan the Lion to name but a few.

This is the first Monday in Lent. Last Wednesday we were reminded of ‘from dust we came and unto dust we shall return’. We’ve received the instructions, yet again, of Fasting and Abstinence. And, now, this week, we turn to the most difficult part of belief, withstanding temptation and staying true. The gospel for the first Sunday in Lent is Matthew 4:1-11, The Temptation of Jesus.

Temptation is one of those words that come fully packaged with negativity. We don’t really ever admit that being tempted is a good thing. Temptation is usually something that we succumb to and hope we live the next day, probably with regret. For Harry, the temptation was small like using magic for self maybe just once. For Frodo, letting the ring keep you alive a little bit longer. Meanwhile, the effort to withstand the temptation is huge. Thus, the conflict because the temptation never ever really look quite all that bad, which leaves us with a basic dilemma.

 

suspense

02/15/2013 /

When you see a title like suspense, you may think I’m going to talk craft. Or maybe how a book I just read kept me up until 2 AM only to turn out the light when Tom grumbled so loudly that Sammy woke up and needed to go outside. Or maybe it would be about how suspense has no place to hide. Well, you would be wrong. I’m talking about the suspense of the serial.

For the most part, I’m happy with the age in which I was born. Sometimes I wish I had been born later or earlier but really, I’m good. But there are days when I wish was a kid when the movies were done in serial form. Like the Perils of Pauline, shown in weekly installments, the ultimate in cliff hangers. I get chills just thinking of walking out of a darkened theater, the video image burned into my brain, worried about the heroine, angry at the villain, good lord, life does seem simpler then.

When Harry Potter was complete as a series, when The ClockWork Dark series finished, when His Dark Material ended, need I go on? Then I feel sad. I’m sad for those readers who don’t have to wait, who haven’t held the main characters close, worrying about them, wondering what will happen to them, caring for them. Those readers just pick up the next book and Voila! the story is completed.  What I look for is the suspense the author meant for the story, the suspense of waiting, anticipating, wondering, hoping, dying to know what happens is just that glorious. Maybe I wasn’t born when Pauline was in peril, but I’m more than happy to be around now for the suspense of the yet to be completed serial, no matter where I find it.

 

Last day

08/05/2012 /

Today. The last day of the SCBWI Los Angeles conference. It will end with an autograph party. We have had remarkable speakers from the opening, Arthur Levine on Timeless…books writers, illustrators, ideas. Karen Cushman on Courting Surprises.Clare Vanderpool on writing life and craft. Tony DiTerlizze on, well, the joy of ideas, how an illustrator gets there.  And more. Last night was the Portfolio Showcase, an amazing display of art talent. I spent a bit of time talking to one of the young illustrators chosen for the mentor program. I can’t wait to see his work in a book, out there, on the shelf, what a treat,  Last night, flash mob dancing, awesome,  not only for Lin and Steve, but for all who participated.

Sigh. Just another great conference that’s almost over.

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