tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post1835541749592689242..comments2024-03-09T02:15:11.120-08:00Comments on Eric W. Trant: Orphans: Why do we love them?Eric W. Tranthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13842968931062056407noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-43727841099838000662011-10-10T17:01:00.904-07:002011-10-10T17:01:00.904-07:00I think a broken or incomplete family (how many of...I think a broken or incomplete family (how many of the young heroes and heroines in Disney films are missing at least one parent? And 90% of the time it's the mother?) immediately grabs the sympathy and interest of the audience, starts off the young hero or heroine on a journey to find himself/herself/his or her backstory/history/genealogy/curse/whatever and has us rooting for the character to get back to a place of innocence (loss of innocence occurring of course when the parent or family member was lost.) <br /><br />That's my brilliance for the day. :)Phoenixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07477498671080132176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-17330691217435755172011-10-07T21:31:07.484-07:002011-10-07T21:31:07.484-07:00Victor Standish, my hero, is an orphan of sorts.
...Victor Standish, my hero, is an orphan of sorts.<br /><br />No parents gives freedom for your orphan to go on his adventure of self-discovery, the epic journey of all heroes according to Joseph Campbell (HERO OF A 1000 FACES.)<br /><br />It stirs echoes of the reader of the journey he made from childhood to adulthood -- or helps the young person rehearse that journey in front of him or her.<br /><br />Anyway, parents make you eat your vegatables! Yuck.<br /><br />Oh, and Huck Finn was an orphan, too! RolandRoland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-76094876310647287822011-10-07T17:29:53.580-07:002011-10-07T17:29:53.580-07:00No clue Dude, but you are right. The YA that I...No clue Dude, but you are right. The YA that I've read usually involves orphans - especially in the fantasy realm. My own fantasy features an orphan heroine - sort of. She is abandoned . .<br /><br />.........dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-34158955868775856662011-10-07T11:19:18.195-07:002011-10-07T11:19:18.195-07:00So...I'm loved right??? 21 days! That counts, ...So...I'm loved right??? 21 days! That counts, doesn't it? <br /><br />")Wine and Wordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06778785233226804217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-87520285259714170862011-10-07T11:16:01.940-07:002011-10-07T11:16:01.940-07:00I think, in general, we tend to be nuturing. And e...I think, in general, we tend to be nuturing. And everyone loves to root for the underdog because at one time or another we've all been there. So you have nuture and empathy tied up in orphans (I, having been an orphan for 21 whole days, have somewhat of a PHD on the subject). You want to take care of them, and you want them to succeed. OH.MY.GOSH. The Blind Side? Hellooooo. I never wanted that movie to end. Boxcar Children??? Never wanted those books to end. I'm actually kinda pissed I ever got adopted. Harumph! I coulda been a heroine.Wine and Wordshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06778785233226804217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-32803653057360837172011-10-07T08:51:15.564-07:002011-10-07T08:51:15.564-07:00It evokes sympathy. And in YA, it eliminates pesky...It evokes sympathy. And in YA, it eliminates pesky parents.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-33058345936111205142011-10-07T08:10:00.008-07:002011-10-07T08:10:00.008-07:00It's a very, very common trope in the mytholog...It's a very, very common trope in the mythological hero's journey. The hero has to be severed from home, from parents, from any sort of protection and go into the scary world of adventure.Cynthia Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14595677706434920552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5779183012658025206.post-90910513101478281952011-10-07T06:44:38.189-07:002011-10-07T06:44:38.189-07:00Because it generates instant sympathy and a relati...Because it generates instant sympathy and a relatively easier path for the MC to take control of his/her life (no pesky parents in the way). That's all I got.Joshua McCunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17367262185912463258noreply@blogger.com