Hey folks. I was hoping to get some insight on on a problem related to how people by default visualize the race of a character in a book related to the book I'm currently writing.
Background: My story takes place approximately 100 years after an apocalyptic event, in a city built as a place of shelter for the survivors. White people are a minority in this city.
My first-person narrator has grown up here; therefore, to him, the "default" race of a person will not be white (he himself is a shapeshifter and can be any color he wants). Obviously, this is not something most readers will share.
The difficulty then becomes how to communicate that this is how the setting is in a way that balances diversity and character concerns. I see a few options:
- The narrator only notes a character's race when the character is white (there are a few). Pros: This seems the most natural way for him to think. Cons: I'm not sure most readers will understand what's happening or why the narrator does this; many readers will probably miss the point entirely.
- The narrator notes practically everyone's race. Pros: Makes it clear what most people in the setting look like. Cons: Probably not a natural way for the character to think, also can easily come off as "trying too hard" to my mind.
- The narrator notes nobody's race. Pros: Can avoid some possible pitfalls of the other methods. Cons: Does nothing to illuminate this aspect of the setting; leaves default reader imaginations unchallenged.
At the moment I lean slightly towards the first option, mostly because the objections are largely meta and it feels the most natural way for the MC to think. Still, this is a topic I would appreciate advice on, and any insights others have would be valuable.
Thanks!
Background: My story takes place approximately 100 years after an apocalyptic event, in a city built as a place of shelter for the survivors. White people are a minority in this city.
My first-person narrator has grown up here; therefore, to him, the "default" race of a person will not be white (he himself is a shapeshifter and can be any color he wants). Obviously, this is not something most readers will share.
The difficulty then becomes how to communicate that this is how the setting is in a way that balances diversity and character concerns. I see a few options:
- The narrator only notes a character's race when the character is white (there are a few). Pros: This seems the most natural way for him to think. Cons: I'm not sure most readers will understand what's happening or why the narrator does this; many readers will probably miss the point entirely.
- The narrator notes practically everyone's race. Pros: Makes it clear what most people in the setting look like. Cons: Probably not a natural way for the character to think, also can easily come off as "trying too hard" to my mind.
- The narrator notes nobody's race. Pros: Can avoid some possible pitfalls of the other methods. Cons: Does nothing to illuminate this aspect of the setting; leaves default reader imaginations unchallenged.
At the moment I lean slightly towards the first option, mostly because the objections are largely meta and it feels the most natural way for the MC to think. Still, this is a topic I would appreciate advice on, and any insights others have would be valuable.
Thanks!