Problems in Urban Fantasy

[the-mome-wrath.livejournal.com]

I found this three part article on the urban fantasy genre and the second part covered many of the cliches and annoyances of the genre. Sadly it seems the genre really is becoming formulaic. It doesn't name any series as examples, but as I was reading down the list I found that unsurprisingly LKH is in violation of many of them. The only thing I really noticed on the list that we haven't seen in the books yet is the lower back tattoo. Anita should get a tattoo, but it should say something like 'run while you still have a personality.'

For your reading enjoyment, here's the articles:

Urban Fantasy Part 1: The Formula
Urban Fantasy Part 2: When Things Go Wrong
Urban Fantasy Part 3: Deconstructing Urban Fantasy

Comments

[the-mome-wrath.livejournal.com]

I agree that to an extent people that trying to write a strong woman tend to try and make her like a man. They beat the reader over the head with how much better than the boys she is, or how them men feel threatened by her to constantly remind the reader that she's strong. It's as if they don't know how else to show the readers that this character they've written is strong, or are afraid you forgot it since the last page where they showed you.

The other way writers seem to try and reinforce the fact that the woman is strong is by constantly making her reject things that are traditionally feminine. It's like the writer is constantly screaming at you 'Look how much of a tomboy she is! Look how different from other women she is!' It's combating a stereotype with another stereotype.

Needless to say this can quickly get irritating, as good literature tends to be more subtle than a sledgehammer. But using these methods is easier than writing a female character that likes ribbons and unicorns and will beat the tar out of you if you dare to hurt the people she loves.

[yaoihuntresse.livejournal.com]

It's something I like to call "Calamity Jane Syndrome". I got the term from a short-lived cartoon series called The Adventures of Calamity Jane. The problem was the writers were trying so hard to make Jane a "strong female heroine" by never letting her potray "soft" emmotions, be repulsed by men who flirt\comment on her looks, act uber-tough and little else, and hell, the original voice actress was replaced at the last minute because she made Jane's voice "too feminie." As a result Jane was a boring character and her show was off the air in less than five weeks.