Works Are Political, But Not How You Think

Many believe that political polarization is at an all-time high and some believe that it's time for entertainment to stop being so darn political.

Both the critics and the defenders of political themes in books, movies, music and TV shows fail to understand some key points. The critics fail to understand that much of what has passed off for entertainment has been political in nature, but the defenders of entertainment fail to understand how political themes were handled.

For those who think entertainment shouldn't be political, it's been happening longer than you think. In books, you have 1984, Huckleberry Finn and The Hunger Games. In movies, you have Planet of the Apes and a few recent films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In music, Creedence Clearwater Revival slipped plenty of political themes into their songs, ditto for John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen. Comic books have explored them, too, as evidenced by The Watchmen and the Civil War storyline in Marvel Comics.

But for those who point out that entertainment has been political, one needs to examine how political themes were inserted into the works. Movies used allegories to make a point. Songs were subtle with their political themes, in which you would have to pay close attention to the lyrics to notice them. Books that explored such themes used alternative realities and speculated about the future to illustrate points. Most of all, those who explored political themes in such works, while some were more obvious than others, didn't beat people over the head with them.

Sticking with books, what really makes a political theme work is when you have complexity, where your protagonist may not always be in the right but is kept relatable, where the antagonist has a valid point but his or her methods are questionable, and where you don't provide the reader an easy answer to the problems faced.

Those who do the best job at exploring political themes in their works don't make it easy for people who read or watch the products to determine who is right or wrong -- though they may find themselves sympathizing more with a particular character. And they are the type of works in which you go back and read or view them again, you might find yourself asking if the person you sided with the first time is really the person you should have sided with.

I think the real problem is that those who don't want forms of entertainment becoming political is because they are exposed to politics so much through 24-7 news media and social media, so they want to escape that. Of course, for those people, they are probably better off cutting down 24-7 news media and social media consumption instead of insisting that nobody producing a book, song or movie can ever touch upon a political theme.

And the problem with those who defend political themes in entertainment is they forget that the best way to make a political theme work is to not engage in absolutes, where one side is declared right in every way and the other side is wrong in every way. Instead, it requires making both sides people that one can empathize with, but might not necessarily sympathize with -- and though readers or viewers might sympathize with the protagonist, there can be times in which readers or viewers question whether the protagonist is doing the right thing. For those who think otherwise, they are the types that are more interested in being told what they want to hear, rather than engaging in introspection.

In the coming weeks, I'll touch upon a few works that explored political themes, how the creators pulled them off and why that's the way one should explore such a theme that way -- and why, if you examine them closely, you are forced to ask yourself difficult questions rather than get easy answers.

From Watchmen to Doomsday Clock

More than 40 years ago, Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons and John Higgins introduced the world to The Watchmen, a team of superheroes that were intended to deconstruct, examine and parody the concept of superheroes.

Late last year, DC Comics rolled out its latest miniseries, Doomsday Clock, involving some of the characters that trio created, but incorporating them into its mainline DC Universe.

Starting with The Watchmen, who would have guessed that the characters Moore and company created would have become such a critical success that Time magazine would recognize the single volume edition as one of its 100 best novels published in the English language since 1923.

I have come to appreciate the introspection that Moore brought to the world of superheroes, asking the larger questions about what role do they really play in a society and how do they really benefit people, if they do at all. His characters are multi-dimensional, their flaws are highlighted for all to see, but they are given qualities that people can identify with and question who really is in the right.

Ozymandias is considered the world's smartest man and seeks to prove how brilliant his ideas are to save the human race. Rorschach is a skeptic of human nature and see no issues with going to great lengths to ensure the guilty are punished. Nite Owl longs for the days when superheroes were accepted in society. Dr. Manhattan questions whether or not life is really worth living. Silk Spectre must answer questions about her upbringing. And The Comedian is cynical yet more than happy to advance whatever cause the federal government backs.

Watchmen works in large part because it's never clear as to who is really right or wrong as events unfold. It utilizes an interesting technique, with a "story within a story" that features a youth in New York City reading the fictional comic "Tales of the Black Freighter." The fictional comic serves as a parallel to the story of Adrian Veidt, aka Ozymandias, and his plans for saving the world from the threat of nuclear war.

The popularity of The Watchmen was a blessing and a curse for Moore, because language was added into Moore's contract with DC that the rights to the characters would revert to him after a period of time. But as The Watchmen increased in popularity, DC continued to release bound volumes of the series, thus claiming the right to the characters as long as the series remained in print.

That has made the decision to utilize several of The Watchmen characters in the limited series Doomsday Clock a controversial move for some of Moore's biggest fans. That series has had three issues released thus far and has been interesting to see how events unfolded. There is already much evidence that Dr. Manhattan has been messing with the timeline in the main DC Universe (it's been alluded to ever since DC launched its Rebirth effort) and it appears Dr. Manhattan and Superman are due for a confrontation. The series has already presented the first meeting between Ozymandias and Lex Luthor and Batman meeting up with the second person to take up the Rorschach mantle.

Whether or not Doomsday Clock can live up to Watchmen remains to be seen, but given the way the plot is unfolding, it appears we may have yet another critical examination of what superheroes are really all about.

Book Review: Kistishi Island

Kistishi Island follows the tales of Serena Cole, who gets constant advice from two women only she can see. Her family tries to convince her that her friends are imaginary and others think she has a mental health problem, particularly with how she handles herself against bullies at school.

No longer trusting her aunt, Serena goes out to join her mother at an archeological dig, only to learn that the friends that only she can are goddesses who are native to the island. A mystery unfolds around Serena about the island, the goddesses and what her role will be in saving everyone.

Serena is a strong character, somebody who is easy to sympathize with. Author Jordan Elizabeth Mierek does a great job with Serena's portrayal, particularly how much she wants to be with her mother and how she remains convinced her friends are real (and ultimately proves that is indeed the case).

Though it does take a while for the story to get going, the latter chapters in the book are where I found it harder to put the book down. Mierek does a good job building tension in the latter half of the book, by which point I was rooting for Serena to come through on her journey.

There were a few minor characters who seemed superficial to the story, though. Otherwise, this was an enjoyable book with an interesting concept.

Kistishi Island is a recommended read.

Twenty Questions With Carolyn M. Walker

My guest for Twenty Questions is Carolyn M. Walker, whose debut novel Immortal Descent will be released April 3 by Clean Reads Publishing. The brief blurb about the book: "Twenty-year-old Ethan unknowingly inherits a rare and ancient power, instantly making him a target and a savior all at once."

You can learn more about Carolyn's work at her website or you can follow her on Twitter here.

So let's hear from Carolyn about her upcoming release.

1. How did you get interested in writing?

I have been interested in writing since I can remember, to be honest. Writing has always been like an art to me. From an early age, I began writing short stories. I love creating worlds and characters and then breathing live into them. My mother’s deep love for books became my own, growing up among hundreds of books in the home.

2. What inspired you to come up with this story?

I have long been fascinated with the supernatural. A few years back, during the angels and demons craze, I began research into the story of the fallen angels and their cursed offspring, the Nephilim. I wanted to explore the ‘what if’ when it came to these beings possibly having “children” of their own. From there the Lorns of Immortal Descent were quite literally born!

3. Tell me about the main character, Ethan West, and what inspired you to create him.

Ethan West’s character was inspired by a couple different things. He’s a lot like me in his love for history, art, and being a seeker of answers. Ethan also struggled with anxiety, something I dealt with at his age. His anxiety particularly comes from his dark past and broken family. When he was young, his mother died of cancer and his father was an alcoholic. Not only is he haunted by his past, he faces an uncertain and terrifying future. It was important for me to show how Ethan must face both his past and his future in order to survive the present.

4. What characters, other than Ethan, did you find enjoyable to write as you progressed with the book?

I enjoyed writing all of the characters but I particularly enjoyed writing about the characters of Rue and Tristan. Ruenna Dawe is a strong and complex female character. She is a very old and powerful Lorn with the capability to hear the thoughts of others. Rue forms a special bond with Ethan early on, as his protector. She represents a conflict for Ethan because he was attacked by a Lorn at the start of the story, yet he must entrust his life to one. Tristan Lowell was probably my favorite character to craft. He is the ultimate Machiavellian character as a cold, calculating, and ruthless tyrant. Yet despite his cruel and sadistic nature, Tristan is refined, with impeccable manners and an alluring disposition. As a Lorn with the ability of mind control, he is very manipulative and enjoys exploiting others. I really enjoyed creating a character you can’t help but love to hate, yet hate to love.

5. What are some of the themes you explored in writing the novel?

I explored the theme of loss, heavily throughout the book. So many of my characters have lost something significant, be it loved ones, their innocence, even their lives. For example, one of my characters named Victoria, is one of Tristan’s minions and she has the power of Banishment—the ability to erase another’s memories. Tristan forces her to use her own ability on herself, erasing her own past. Victoria constantly struggles with the fact that Tristan knows who she really is but because he controls her, she is powerless to do anything about it. That loss repeatedly defines the angry character she has become. Another theme I explore is “good vs. evil.” I expand the idea to encompass “order vs. chaos” on a universal level and the idea that both forces exist in every being. I tie this closely with the recurring theme of immortality and the quest for discovering its origin.

6. What things did you learn along the way as you wrote and edited the book?

I have learned that reading makes you a sharper writer. I have also learned that over-editing can be deadly! I continue to read, even as I write. I have found that some of the best inspiration can be found in reading other works of fiction and non-fiction. When it comes to editing your work, I have learned to be careful! As a professional writer and editor, it’s easy to edit something to death, taking away some of the magic it once had! When I edit, I have to remain constantly aware of this!

7. Tell me more about your short story: Swing High, Miami!

It was a short story I wrote when I was in my early twenties, about a weekend vacation down to Miami for my now-husband’s birthday. The entire trip was a whirlwind of disasters, one after another, making it more of a nightmare than a vacation. Looking back, I realized that the trip was such a series of unfortunate events that it was unbelievably comical. When I saw the call to submission for a “Best or Worst Vacation Story,” I knew I had to share this with the rest of the world.

8. What do you find is the right environment for you to write?

When writing, I like to be in a secluded or private place. Sometimes I like to have complete quiet to concentrate. Other times I like to tune in to instrumental music to “get into the zone” for a particular scene.

9. Are there specific programs or tools you find useful to help you with the writing process?

I used to write out all my stories long hand in a spiral notebook. These days, I use Microsoft Word. I often use Notepad for note keeping. While I type up all new works, I still like to use the old-fashioned pen and paper method for new ideas, character bios, and even outlines. I keep notebooks everywhere—by my bed, in the kitchen, at work, in the car…just in case an idea hits me. And they often do! I have a whole filing case of spiral notebooks, filled front to back with just “ideas” for future stories.

10. What have you found to be useful methods for promoting your writing?

I have a long background in digital marketing, so I find a comfort zone there. I do think that word of mouth has been extremely valuable, if not sometimes the most valuable method to promote my work.

11. Tell me more about the home library your mother had and how that inspired your interest in writing and reading.

My mother’s home library was like no other! She had everything, from fiction, to non-fiction, to poetry, to reference, to picture books! A lot of the books she had were rare books, collectors sets, limited editions, banned volumes, and those no longer in print. In our den, she had custom bookshelves made from hand painted pine wood, to house her books. The shelves covered entire walls and ran from the floor to the ceiling. She even got an old-fashioned library ladder chair for reaching the topmost shelves. I was fortunate to grow up among so many great books, which inspired my love for reading and writing.

12. What would you say is your favorite genre or genres to read?

I absolutely love psychological thrillers. I love how nothing is as it seems! I’m also a sucker for a good mystery! History is a wonderful way to blend mystery and suspense, so I love historical tales too.

13. What are some of the famous books or authors you have enjoyed or inspired you?

Richard Matheson and Neil Gaiman are among my favorites. I also love Nora Roberts, Anne Rice, and John Grisham. Classics I adore are by Edgar Allen Poe and CS Lewis.

14. Any aspiring or independent authors whose books you’ve read that you liked and want to mention to others to check out?

My sister Lynn Veevers just published her debut novel “Pinnacle” with Clean Reads as well.

15. What advice would you give to those who want to write a novel before they actually get started?

Keep writing! Starting can be exciting but it’s the keeping on that’s the real challenge. There will probably be a point that you might begin to wonder what you are doing, or if your story will really go anywhere. You might even wonder why you are trying to write a book at all! Whatever the questions, don’t let them lead to doubts that have you pausing. Even if you only write 100 words in a day, don’t doubt and don’t stop. So many great books never get finished because the author doubted themselves and then stopped.

16. What can you tell me about your work for The Southeast Review and what you learned from that experience?

I worked at the Southeast Review as an intern during my junior year at Florida State University. I wanted to learn more about the inner workings of a literary journal, so I served as a contributing writer and editor for a semester. It was a wonderful experience, and I got to meet with and interview some amazing writers, authors, and talented literary connections that helped me to better understand the industry.

17. I see you enjoy traveling – are there certain places you’ve visited that you particularly enjoyed or were an amazing experience?

Years ago, I was a travel agent and I loved booking people on vacations around the world. Learning so much about travel inspired me to do as much of it myself. Though I’m originally from California, I also spent some time in Washington State where I enjoyed some of the most beautiful snow days ever up there! The mountains are simply breathtaking! My family enjoys diving and snorkeling so we have visited every beach in the state, plus many springs. I’ve also visited Mexico and the Cayman Islands, but my biggest goal is to go abroad to Asia and visit Japan! That’s next on my bucket list.

18. Any particular scores and soundtracks you listen to that inspire your writing the most?

Some of my favorite composers and artists are Hans Zimmer, Philip Glass, Nathan Barr, and E.S. Posthumus.

19. What would you say is the biggest difference between living in southern California and living in Florida?

The humidity, hands down! I have been in heat so dry it was like trying to inhale blow dryer air on the highest setting. But the moisture in the air that is humidity that gets me every time!

20. Who would win a battle of superhero skills: Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman?

Wonder Woman, of course! 😉

The Last Jedi Review (Spoilers)

As with The Force Awakens, I watched The Last Jedi twice to take it all in and decide whether the movie really worked for me or not and where it ranks among the Star Wars films.

My thoughts about The Last Jedi are beyond the break -- there are spoilers, so don't read past the break if you haven't seen the film yet.

Guest Post: Kadee Carder

Kadee Carder is my guest blogger this week, so I am going to turn it over to her. Thank you, Kadee, for stopping by!

A man walking through a valley hears a thundering roar. He stops in his tracks. A giant boulder tumbles to the ground before him, blocking his path between the narrow mountain pass. He must get to the village beyond; it’s his destination. He cannot turn back; days of travel lay behind him and he has limited supplies.

Does the man yell? Shout? Roar in callous anger at the fallen rock? Would it do any good to yell at the rock? No. He must find a way over the boulder. He takes one step forward, and another, digging his fingers into the crusty earth, plotting footholds up, up, and over that wall. As he jumps down the final steps beyond the boulder, he looks back. His arms tremble with power, he slaps his gritty palms together vigorously. The wind coursing through his lungs inundates his hearty chest. He overcame the rock, and he continues on his way toward home.

Are you battling fallen rocks? Are you stuck? Are you struggling with hard things happening and you don’t know what to do about them? Ownership, owning your decisions and experiences in the light of adversity, offers the foothold over the boulder. You cannot control outcomes, others, or the falling rocks. You just have to deal with those falling rocks. Those monsters. Those dragons. Those feelings of inadequacy or unimportance. You can control your decisions and how you act. You can choose to search for footholds rather than yell at the rock. Instead of complaining about the rock, instead of shouting angry words at the shadows, you can instead move forward with gratitude, thankful for the rock and all it teaches you.

See, those monsters, those shadows, those obstacles, they teach you who your soul craves to be. They show you just where you need to go. Did the man need to get home? Yes. But did he need an opportunity to see how strong he could be? Yes, even more, in fact. More than the final destination is the journey along the way. This life you’ve got, it’s pretty brilliant. It’s filled with moments where you can choose to be the hero. When you embrace the challenge, when you act with purpose, when you stay the course, that’s when you fully realize life itself. “Everything you have ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear” (George Addair).  In facing your fears, you shine the light on the shadows of what you truly need to do on this planet.

I found this myself after receiving a horrible review on one of my books. If you have ever made anything, you understand the risks involved of letting all your inside hopes and dreams be smashed to bits by an unhappy audience. Well. I’ve always been competitive and a high achiever. I go big. I do my best. It’s all on the line. Also, if you’ve ever created anything, you know that your first attempt at something isn’t what you will eventually be able to do. I wrote a trilogy of young adult novels and I love them with all I have. I did my best. Apparently, not everyone agrees. That’s okay. That’s life, folks. That’s art. Well. As I read this horrible review, and allthefeelings overcame me, my husband straight up said, “If you can’t take the bad reviews, then you might as well give up now.” I took a long walk that night under the starry sky. First of all, even though my heart sank, my feet didn’t. My heart didn’t stop beating. In fact, the next morning, waking up to the cleared out cobwebs of loss and horror, and realizing everything I believed about myself had changed….I found a blissful freedom. As if the shades had lifted. As if the sun shone, no matter what. See, the Son does shine no matter what. I’ve been put on this planet for a reason. I’m not always sure what it is, but he gave me these stories to share to encourage people. He gave me stories so I can learn to tell better stories. If that means taking some hard hits, then bring them on. I took an objective look at my writing, at my weaknesses where I could improve, at my strengths, and where I needed to dig in and sharpen the tools and my ability to use them. Meeting failure head-on made me reach higher. Every hero faces that in his plotline. Do you want to be the hero? Then get ready for some falling rocks. Brace for impact. And aren’t we excited for it?

The good news? You’re stronger than you know, and you discover it when the rocks fall before you. You’re braver than you know, and you unsheathe it when the dragons rear back their heads. You’re much more capable than you know, and you sharpen it when the hammer drops.

Every challenge, where you find yourself complaining or blaming, offers you the opportunity to become the best version of you. Greet those dragons with a brief nod, then rage onward—with kindness, courage, grit, and hope. Yes, you can.

HERE BE DRAGONS

The conqueror acts. He plans. He plans backup plans.

And he beats the war drums.

Just like those voices demanded, I dug into the sand and the mud,

and readied for battle.

My lead, my call, my terms. My war cadence. My dragons.

****

HERE BE DRAGONS

Alliance Military Guard sent the order. Sergeant Tucker Thompson acquiesced. Hopping a plane to his long-lost Australian birthplace, he's been charged with his toughest mission yet. Thompson must rally his company of soldiers to prevent a new generation of weaponry from breaching the world's borders.

Pound the war drums. Rattle the cages. Here be Dragons.

AUTHOR BIO

Fierce yet sparkly, I help seekers find brave new worlds. The goal is magic, the medium is ink, and the fuel is coffee. And sometimes pizza. I teach English on the university level when I'm not dancing around the living room with my family, lifting heavy at the gym, traveling the planet, or binging superhero shows.

The INSURRECTION trilogy, HERE BE DRAGONS, and non-fiction inspirational IGNITE roll out perilous motives, twisty plots, and daring protagonists. Grab some real estate and your copy of my latest adventure, and follow along at KadeeCarder.com.

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FUN FACT NUMBER ONE:

Here Be Dragons is a standalone novel, but it does follow my Insurrection trilogy. We see a few characters we met on those luxurious Caribbean beaches. Tucker was the romantic interest from the trilogy. After writing the trilogy, I felt like readers needed to know Tucker more, and he had to complete this assignment. Might as well follow along! No need to have read the trilogy; this book records its own wild adventure!

FUN FACT NUMBER TWO:

PRE-ORDER GIFT WITH PURCHASE! 10 FREE WORKOUTS!

With over ten years of experience specializing in metabolic conditioning, and as the official trainer of the Alliance Military Guard, Fit By Faith© owner Krista Johnson has created ten workouts to get you in gear and ready to crush life. Utilizing a variety of whole-body strengthening techniques, your FREE WORKOUTS will be just what you needed to start your new year off the right way. Each of the ten workouts can be completed at home or in a gym, and takes approximately thirty minutes or less.

Submit your pre-order receipt to KadeeCarder.com/HereBeDragons and receive your own Alliance Military Guard Training Guide containing TWO WEEKS worth of exercises, guaranteed to get you in battle-ready shape to train as a Guardsman.

This gift with purchase will ONLY be available on pre-orders! Offer expires January 1^st, 2018 at 11:59 PM Central time. Remember to submit your purchase receipt to the link above, otherwise I will not know you have purchased. And you NEED THIS GUIDE! Hoo-rah!

Purchase here be dragons on kindle unlimited for only $4.99:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0787PKJJF/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513231085&sr=8-1&keywords=kadee+carder+here+be+dragons

(here be dragons releases January 2, 2018)

Visit http://www.kadeecarder.com for inspiration, radio interviews, gift certificates, freebie codes, and more!

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I’m giving away a free, empowering e-book to those who subscribe to my email list at kadeecarder.com. Titled IGNITE, the 60-page book offers a serving of inspiration, a dash of hope, and a cup of grace to help you get kickin’ on those challenging tasks you’ve got to do!

Book Review: Grimm Remains

Grimm Remains is the sequel to Eli Celata's debut novel High Summons, in which Jon continues his studies with Jordan about demon hunting, which takes a more challenging turn thanks to the arrival of havfine, or demonic mermaids that usually stay in ocean waters but have shown up in Lake Ontario.

I enjoyed following Jon's journey in learning more about demon hunting and the skills it requires, all while he's having to keep it a secret from his college friends, with whom he now shares an apartment. It gets challenging when Jon experiences encounters with demons and mystical forces at the apartment itself, certainly a situation that makes for awkward moments.

All the while, as Jon learns more about everyone in Rochester who is tasked with protecting the people from demons, he and Jordan are tasked with having to locate three missing orphans, during which Jon learns more not only about his father, but Jordan's as well.

What makes the book work is the main character and the struggles he goes through. He wants to learn more about demon hunting, only to find out how difficult certain skills can be to master, and how difficult it can be to keep demons away when he just wants to spend time with his friends. And then there's Jon's relationship with his mother -- he goes through a period in which he doesn't keep in touch with her and that leads to bigger problems for the relationship between Jon and Jordan.

I did find the pacing to be problematic -- certain chapters went too long when they might have benefitted from a break in the action, with a page turner that prompts the reader to keep going. Other chapters were too short for my liking.

But I liked the main character so much and had plenty of interest in learning how his relationship with Jordan further develops. Grimm Remains is a good follow-up to the first book and a recommended read. You may order it here.