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Sep. 11th, 2006 09:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccaelizabethI had a half a thought.
When describing characters in a society where there are lots of different ethnicities the description seems to start with skin, hair, and eyes.
But historically there would be mostly same looking people in the same place. I mean, even now, in places that are else. But I'm reading one of those elves and dwarves fantasy books, so I was thinking pretend middle ages.
I think England had a bunch of different looks, on account of all the invaders. Lots of different sorts of white and blonde and brunette and all that.
But describing characters who are all dark skin dark hair dark eyes would have to start with something different.
Height and build and if their face is broad or narrow? What shape their nose is? If they have a nice smile?
I don't know. And I feel vaguely like I should know. Like I should have read a bunch of books where skin hair eyes aren't useful distinguishing features and so I should remember from them.
Of course being the awkward me I am I'm thinking on the extreme case of a whole bunch of clones now. I guess then there would be different hair styles. And maybe scars. Or makeup. Or consistent clothing. Or deliberately inconsistent clothing, like the one really awkward guy who picks a different clonesib to dress up as every day.
I'm also vaguely wondering if red hair and green (or violet) eyes turns up in not-white backgrounds. I should probably know that.
But my half thought was something like, my reading seems a bit narrow somehow. In the way it assumes diversity. Weird.
Writing exercise: Write about characters but leave out skin hair eyes completely.
When describing characters in a society where there are lots of different ethnicities the description seems to start with skin, hair, and eyes.
But historically there would be mostly same looking people in the same place. I mean, even now, in places that are else. But I'm reading one of those elves and dwarves fantasy books, so I was thinking pretend middle ages.
I think England had a bunch of different looks, on account of all the invaders. Lots of different sorts of white and blonde and brunette and all that.
But describing characters who are all dark skin dark hair dark eyes would have to start with something different.
Height and build and if their face is broad or narrow? What shape their nose is? If they have a nice smile?
I don't know. And I feel vaguely like I should know. Like I should have read a bunch of books where skin hair eyes aren't useful distinguishing features and so I should remember from them.
Of course being the awkward me I am I'm thinking on the extreme case of a whole bunch of clones now. I guess then there would be different hair styles. And maybe scars. Or makeup. Or consistent clothing. Or deliberately inconsistent clothing, like the one really awkward guy who picks a different clonesib to dress up as every day.
I'm also vaguely wondering if red hair and green (or violet) eyes turns up in not-white backgrounds. I should probably know that.
But my half thought was something like, my reading seems a bit narrow somehow. In the way it assumes diversity. Weird.
Writing exercise: Write about characters but leave out skin hair eyes completely.