Cross-culture—environment
This environment can be by choice, by birth or by capture. For better
or for worse your character is tied to this place. For example, in the movie Phantom of the Opera everyone who
participates in the opera has a stake in giving good performances. Jobs and
reputations matter. Yet, there are a variety of mini-cultures within the
overall setting such as the behind the walls laundry room, carpenter shop and
stable. Some vocations may or may not ever communicate with one another.
Although I find labeling people to be derogatory there has been a
reason that so many high school based movies are divided by category names. It
introduces immediate conflict. One classroom alone can create its own
mini-world. The Breakfast Club is a
great example of characters being forced to examine and choose what mores will
define them within their cultural environment.
In The Hero and the Crown, by
Robin McKinley, Aerin, as a king’s daughter, has many privileges. At the
same time she has prescribed boundaries. As a princess she is not allowed to
cross royal protocol, especially when dealing with visitors or emissaries. Yet
even within those boundaries Aerin chose to cross culture with the people of
Damar, within and without the castle, regardless of income or status. She
treated all with respect and took the time to build communication and
relationships. Whereas her relative Galanna stood on her royal blood and
demanded everyone treat her “with the
greatest deference humanly possible.”
Exercise:
1.
Choose a boundary area in which your protagonist
did not have permission to cross as a teenager. Write up a brief situation in
which he submitted to the rule. And another brief situation in which he
deliberately broke it.
2.
What emotions did he experience as an
after-effect?
Share: Which emotional
version do you think is most effective for the situation you have your
character in now?
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