Caroline Seawright <caseawr@ecr.mu.oz.au> wrote:

Well, maybe it was all for humour, but ... I can see why
people can't get past the OOCness of the characters to
enjoy the story properly!

I should read this story.  After all, I find it hard to beleive you
could portray Ranma worse than the manga does... ^_^
 

Maybe it's just me, but I can't see why *anyone* would want
to read an out-of-character fanfic.  

<sigh>

I've refrained from commenting, but I'm afraid that some people might 

be

discouraged from new interpretations of the manga by this discussion. 
So here we go:

Two points:  What, exactly, is out of character?  The thing about Ranma
1/2 is that there is *no* consistent characterization.  The primary
thrust of Ranma 1/2 is humor, not drama.  Therefore, the characters 

will

behave in whatever manner gets the biggest laugh.

I disagree.  There is very consistant characterization; there are simply 
some grey area where more than one interpretation can fit the character.  
BUT...there are theories, and common ones, which are pure nonsense by 
the manga.

For example, the two biggest Ukyophiles I know - Zen and Blade - like 

to

pretend that the last few volumes of manga don't exist.  Because, they
say, Ukyo acts "out of character" in those volumes.  It just goes to
show that you can't pin down one set of characterizations for *any*
character.

<shake head vehemently>  I've gotten over that, it's wishful thinking.
Instead of ignoring it, the thing to do is look at the scene in
question, examine the actions and personalities involved, and come up
with an explanation that suits the facts and characters better than
the (OOC) obvious one.  Which I have done, coming up with a nice
explanation of the infamous wedding scene the does fit Ukyou's
character in the other 37 volumes.  I must thank you for opening my 
ideas to that, BTW, since it was your well-presented argument on why 
Ukyou wasn't trying to kill Akane that convinced me to try this.

I could argue Kasumi the all-knowing wise heart of the home.  I could
argue Kasumi the total ditz, bright as a burned-out light bulb.  I 

could

even argue Kasumi the biker babe - heck, just look how much she enjoyed
torturing Ranma when she discovered his fear of cats.  :)

I think that supports the 'oblivious' aspect.  A single 
scene/issue/story is not enough evidence to portray a character 
accurately.

I equate the Ranma 1/2 manga with the Bible:  Whatever view you'd like
to hold, you'd find support for in the source material.

Within reason.  Very much within reason.  There ARE absolutes about
the characters, and many of them.  Besides a lot of the valid differing 
views I've heard of the characters (especially about Ryouga
and Tarou) are due to value judgements, NOT any inconsistancy in the 
manga.  

Me, I don't like fanfics that pair Ryoga and female Ranma.  I simply
don't see them having that kind of relationship.  But neither do I
discourage people from writing such fanfics; if they want to explore
that kind of relationship, let them.  I won't call it OOC; I'll just
call it contrary to the way *I* like to view the characters.

It's ludicrous in respects to the story; but you could develop is
believably to do so, I guess.

Second:  Okay, someone wants to write a story that even they consider 

to

be OOC.  So what?  Part of what fanfic writing is about is exploring 

all

aspects of a certain person's character.  By putting these characters 

in

extreme situations or having them behave in extreme ways, we can get a
well-rounded view of that character which is more satisfying than the
contradictary and two-dimensional portrayls found in the manga.

Only if it doesn't start off contradicting the manga.  And I still
dispute that the manga is contradictory itself, and I DEFINTELY
dispute that it is two-dimensional (except in the literal sense :).

Oh, and third:  I'm an American through and through.  That means I very
much believe in the credo, "I may not agree with what you say, but I
will defend to the death your right to say it."  Let people write what
they want.  Don't *ever* discourage someone from writing just because
their views and interpretations don't agree with yours.  Certainly, let
them know why you disagree.  Or choose not to read it.  But don't try 

to

impose standards.  For one, it's impossible.

I've never done that, but my C&C generally does include advice (and,
I point out, I always make it clear that it is my ADVICE, and the
people I've preread for can back em up here) as to how a certain
scene could be changed to better fit a character's personality.


Blade
*********
High Priest of the Goddess Ukyou 
Official Fanboy of Pantyhose Tarou
Founding member of the Viz-basher-bashing Club
Author of unbelieveable talent
Debater beyond compare
Really humble guy  

"Reality is for those who cannot handle fantasy."







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