Guest Speakers: Misty Massey, G.M. Nair, James Nettles, & Alex White
Track Director (Geek Sci-Fi): Nicole Givens Kurtz
Since books like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner came out, there has been a HUGE boom for Young Adult fiction. We’ve seen countless titles that showcase teenage or child protagonists in dystopian settings, where they “know better” than all of the adults around them (despite their lack of experience) and save the world. While it can be entertaining, it can also be tiring when the pattern is repeated time and time again… to the point of overkill. The YA bubble has dominated for the past decade, but it had to wind down at some point. Adults need to step up to the plate as well!
As audiences age, they may find it more difficult to relate to younger protagonists. It is not unusual for people to want to see heroes/heroines reflected in the same stage of where they are in their own lives. This can include protagonists who make morally grey choices based on crucial life experience. Maturity and depth factor into the decision-making process. Even if they are “bad” decisions, it’s fun to see the perspectives and reasoning for why they made those choices.
Many people find it appealing and different to step into the shoes of an older and grumpier character, who’s body isn’t the same as it used to be. Instead of preparing for a massive battle, they may just poison the enemy’s water supply and call it a day. While the “Chosen One” trope is bright and amazing for those still in their youth, it can be viewed as a curse or undesirable obligation as an adult.
There are examples of likable adults in fiction who carry experience with them. Avasarala from The Expanse is older, but not bound by traditional stereotypes. She curses and bypasses the diplomacy of “a lady” and wears exquisite clothing not to impress, but because she enjoys it. Hopper from Stranger Things is another fan favorite – being a single father figure who doesn’t always get everything right, is generally grumpy and doesn’t take calls till after he’s had his morning coffee. However, he will go down swinging to protect those he cares about. Alien 2 showcases the tale of two mothers, Ripley being one of them. The Marvel Comics often target younger audiences in their marketing, but Hawkeye is ready to retire. He’s got a wife and children of his own, his body has taken a beating from his endeavors as a superhero, and he’s got far more to lose. There is a higher degree of cost as the wear and tear of these decisions accumulate over time. Though make no mistake – just because a character is older, it doesn’t mean they can’t be a badass. Gandalf proves this by single-handedly taking on a Balrog from Lord of the Rings.
Often in fiction, the older character is the wizened mentor figure, or the crone, the parent, etc. At what point does the character cross over into this archetype? It’s when their entire purpose is to serve another character (usually the protagonist) via their life experience. Their wisdom is distilled and passed down, which is their only function. And then they die. Fiction authors are not generally kind to the mentors they write. Other questions to consider when developing older characters: Are they more active in their own lives? Do they get more screen time? These are often choices of the writer, not the character. Bear in mind, there is nothing wrong to retire a character, especially after they’ve had their own adventures.
For whatever reason, we don’t really see adult heroes as much as we see adult anti-heroes. Why is it that writers and many audiences seem to resonate more towards this category? Is it because this is truer to human nature as we grow older? Adults are well-aware that life isn’t fair, and while they’d rather avoid fighting altogether, sometimes it is necessary. If they’re going to sacrifice themselves–even if they know it’s a bad idea–they’re all in… and can get quite vicious about it. Honor isn’t as important as survival.
It’s underestimated how fun it can be to slick your way out of a combat situation, using your mind for clever maneuvers, rather than physical brawling. Smarter or manipulative people are frequently portrayed as villains, but heroes can also win through wit instead of brute force. While they’ll stand by their principles, they still care about matters such as practicality and efficiency. Their bodies may not be as energetic or free of injuries as they once were, so it makes sense to resort to sneakier strategies. This does not inherently mean they are evil or should be ashamed of their actions. Not everyone can just storm the castle in a head-on collision and do things honorably all the time.
As people age, they often have differing perspectives from their younger selves, showing a change that happens over time. This is based on the challenges that life throws at us. Situations are not as clean cut or black-and-white as we might prefer, but rather full of shades of grey.
Do we have a different way of perceiving cost through the lens of older and more mature characters instead of younger characters? This usually depends on the audience. Younger characters may not be as quick to realize the weight of the sacrifices that are being made. Ideological motivation doesn’t seem to have a price, and there is an underlying sense of immortality due to lack of experience. Adults tend to be more aware of the realistic toll these sacrifices will take, and can anticipate the collateral damage or aftermath of a destructive situation gone wrong.
While older characters and mentors can be wise, they should not be infallible, or foolishly mistaken as “all-knowing.” Characters who are perfect and never wrong are excruciatingly boring. This is why it can be fun to pair together older and younger characters to shed light on their differences, strengths, and weaknesses. Of course, you can still have great stories even without the older wizened character contrasted with the young, idealistic, and impetuous. Another interesting consideration is to throw an old soul into a younger body, such as in Old Man’s War or Self/less. Perhaps have a retired hero dive back into the fray of adventure, because they’re trying to escape their wife and quiet home life, such as Madrik from Kings of the Wild.
What other elements would you like to see in adult heroes/heroines? Do you think adult and/or younger characters get unfair stereotypes or clichés? Who is one of your favorite older characters and why? Let me know in the Comments Section below!
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