I'm not writing something creative, I'm discussing something creative. It counts, alright?
Here's the thing: I have been reading things/watching things in which technology makes a subtle appearance. For instance, a character uses a cellphone as a plotpoint. Or they're connecting to the internet and going to Myspace or Facebook or Twitter or whatever. Or they're using the GPS in their car. Every time I see something like that, I cringe inside and want to yell "HEY, BUSTER! YOUR STORY IS GOING TO BE DATED IN A MATTER OF YEARS!" As I understand it, Bella gets annoyed at the popups on her computer. What happened to popup blockers? Who knows?
However, as I read old stories, I am completely unannounced at their use of "technology." Carriages? Who cares? Steam locomotives? Completely reasonable. Horse-powered harvesters? Little house on the Prairie (it's actually the book about Alfonso's childhood, which is the best one because he feeds milk to a watermelon.)
So am I being unfair? Should I start including technology in my stories? WHAT?
You do know that you have, in fact, been including technology in your stories, right?
ReplyDeleteOkay, so serious answer:
One of the reasons I love to read historical novels (either written today looking into the past, or, far better, reading stuff written in the past) is that I love to know the culture, and a major aspect of that culture is technology.
So the question is... do you want people in the future to know how life really was in the past, or do you want them to assume that we're just like them?
I do have technology, but I try to avoid it. The worst I've gotten is using speakerphone in something last year.
ReplyDeleteWhat about your sci-fi pieces?
ReplyDeleteAnd who uses speakerphones (my spell-checker's going crazy) anymore?
Yeah, yeah, I missed your point. But no, I see it.
sci-fi is different because it's complete rubbish and everybody knows it.
ReplyDeleteEven if it becomes dated in a matter of years (like "the time machine" or "10,000 leagues under the sea" or whatever,) everybody just looks at the themes instead of the science.
Which reminds me, I need to send my stories out again. The first place shut me down.
Good luck with the next place you send them.
ReplyDelete"Everybody just looks at the themes instead of the science."
And you still disagree with me?
Disagree? Maybe, on the idea that I use technology that will soon be dated.
ReplyDeleteI just don't do it.
Of course you don't.
ReplyDelete