Creation; of Ideas, Art, Whatever
 

I am currently working on creating something. I want to write a book, but lack the steady stream of ingenuity to produce one. I wish I could get by on art alone, but I haven't tried to draw or paint seriously in years. So, in a fit of desperation, I am attempting to make a comic. I like to include brain candy, and other little factoids in my writing, but the problem is I don't want to sound like a propoganda spreading dictator-in-the-making.

So, I come to you, glorious NPF, with questions of the creative nature: Can we ever truly determine what and how a specific piece of information or art will affect us? Do we, as the creator have to express a sense of responsibility for what we create, be it tangible or not? And lastly, if information or art is deliberately persuasive, or intended to effect the audience with personal gain in mind, should it be allowed?

I ask this because I am always conscious of my own misunderstandings of the world. I think that freedom of speech is a great and powerful right for the people of the United States, but it is not always used correctly. There are some convincing people out there, there are also quite a large number of reasonably stupid ones, with this knowledge in mind; Do we have the right to spread our own beliefs?

I don't mean to get all deep on you guys, and I know there may be some tom-foolery from the mods (In discussion? Surely you jest Frost!) and at some point Krylo is going to make a pass at my girlfriend and Fifth is going to vomit a few pages of the dictionary to make himself feel important, but I really want this to be considered. I have found that by examining influence as a phenomenon, rather than something we all have to accept, leads to some interesting ideas.

See, it takes a really really good girlfriend to post in a thread as awful as this one.

For real, that's love guys.

Speaking as a former Journalism Major and current Cinema and Media Studies Major, you have no idea how a piece of media, whether it be a novel, movie, television show, video game, or cave painting (well, maybe not, but you understand my point) will affect your audience. People derieve exactly what they wish to from a work - if they approach your persuasive piece with a rigid, unchanging view, they will not be persuaded and it will serve to merely strengthen their beliefs. However, those with an open mind may take your arguement to heart and change their beliefs, or at the very least consider your view.

Of course we have the right to spread out beliefs. This isn't something born out of our democracy-worshipping, capitalism-loving society. At the very basic level, every human has the right to express their views and be heard by their peers. Like everything else in life, there will be people who abuse this privilege, either to be facetious, malicious, or whatever. Even writers who don't necessarily utilize tact (see Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, or even Eric Schlosser of Fast Food Nation fame) make valid points, and draw attention to various issues.

And this is just playing devil's advocate, of course, but why can you say that we must consider the... not-so-intelligent in the creation of media? I am very skeptical of the average intelligence of this country (and the world in general), but saying that we shouldn't publish something because it might have an adverse affect on the "weak-minded, huddled masses" seems somewhat pretentious.

If somebody is spreading lies or concocting false arguements to incite the people, wouldn't it be your responsibility to deconstruct their works? Prove that their arguements or claims are invalid, rather than stopping them. You defeat ignorance by encountering it and providing alternative explanations, not pushing it off to the side. If we halt a few people from spreading their ideas because we deem them offensive, then we get into a "slippery slope" situation, and it becomes easier to stop the distribution of media.

This isn't an awful thread, Frost. The topic is just somewhat... esoteric. Not very many people consider the effects the movies they watch, the books they read, the games they play can have on themselves and others.

Well, here's one thing. Freedom of speech is officially the freedom to say what you want, but it comes with a little price tag that adds "unless it's trouncing on someone else." You can say or print what you want about anyone unless it's damaging politically or socially. That's where libel and slander come from. Also, when it comes to beliefs, you can shout your own to the sky all you want with no problem. But when you actually try to force them on others, you can get pulled over. Whether or not that happens depends on who's doing it and what they're saying, but a safe assumption would be, say, this scenario:

A Jehovah's Witness knocks on a door to spread the word.

versus this one:

A cultist with the cult-given ability to forcibly induct new members decides to test it in a Catholic church.


It depends on whether anyone can potentially be hurt by this. At least the people in the houses have a right to decline. To try to force something on someone is considered a crime, whilst offering an option is okay. That's where we get the Evolution vs. Creation debate, because the most anyone can ask for is to have both if there's any kind of offense either way. No one can force their own exclusive view on anyone else because the law protects the individual right to one's own beliefs, sometimes to a fault.



As for your comic, this is the Internet, where all beliefs come together and people can choose what to look at. So as long as you're not putting out something so controversial that you get shut down, you're probably fine and need only worry about what to cater to with your readership.





Edit: And wow, I just missed half the point in the process of writing that. As for the effects on the viewer, I believe SP hit it on the head. You can use media to get an idea out there, but it won't always take hold. Otherwise, we'd have the gaming half of our society reducing the population like the critics always claim is happening, only slowly and insidiously. If everyone who played shooters opened up in public places with guns, I assure you, that genre WOULD be banned, but as it is, the masses have mind enough to remain unswayed.

I conform to the idea that every action effects everyone in some small way. Whether you can pin down every single effect of this, is not clearly defined. If my comic causes people to doubt the government in some small way, and a protest begins, am i responsible for the outcome? My ideas may not have been the driving force, but it may have been the straw that broke the camel's back. I, in my mind, played a part. If the 'slippery slope' comes into play, and I am dragged into it further, will I be a source of enlightenment, or a scapegoat? Are the ideas a shield or a sword?

The 'huddling masses' as you said aren't mindless zombies, and I understand that. The fact of the matter is, trends pop up almost random, things become popular without any single person declaring what exactly is popular. If my beliefs and ideas are taken to heart by any number of people, do I owe it to them to not get them in trouble? By extent, am I now responsible for not only my ideas, but those who believe in them and hold them to be truths?

I think it's the "magic bullet" theory that states consumers of media are entirely passive, not questioning the media they intake and act exactly as the authors/writers wish them to. Obviously, this is not applicable to our current understanding of media and its effects on audiences.

I completely missed half of the discussion as well, Blue. Yes, when one FORCES one's ideas on others, then they become invalid (and sometimes criminal). Such conveyance and acceptance of ideas is a tragic disservice. You can see this with many parents and their children: "Mommy, why can't I play video games?" "Because you're a girl, sweetie. Now, play dress-up with your Barbie."

EDIT: No, you are not responsible. It's not like your works have magic, mind-controlling properties to them or something (if they do, you must get in touch with me; I have a great plan for world domination that requires just such a technology). If you are really that concerned with people taking your ideas to heart, do what journalists do: address all possible sides of an issue. Don't just write your position and state that you are right; give everybody an overall view of the topic at hand.

Now, if you're talking about your works causing mass riots leading to the deaths of innocents or something in that regard, I don't know. But don't straw-man your opposition. Encourage your audience to decide for themselves, rather than just hammering your ideas (continuing Blue's hammer metaphor) into their head.

Wouldn't that be more of a kind of persuasion? Just because your parents say something should be, doesn't mean that the child is morally obligated to do so. It is not necessarily criminal to disobey your parents. Forcing your views on another person is just another type of persuasion.

It's a reinforcement of societal gender roles, but that was just a random example. Using Blue's example: Jehovah's Witnesses knocking on your door, asking for a moment of your time is one thing. Breaking into their house, holding a gun to their head, demanding that they convert, is quite another matter. Of course, that is extreme, but even approaching somebody in a confrontational manner and shouting is, in my view, "forcing" your opinion. Even if this is not considered criminal, it discredits one's position, in my opinion. One should not need to force one's opinions in order to persuade people.

Honestly, Frosty, there are a lot of influences out there already. I doubt one more is going to be the final one to open a flood gate, especially with so many different views. If this is going to be a political cartoon, you're no more responsible for politics than any other political cartoonist and should expect to have no greater impact than any other one out there.

Also, if comics and cartoons had that much of an effect on people, think of how messed up everyone on NPF would be from reading 8-Bit. XD

Really, you have nothing to worry about.