As I start out tonight I need to begin this post with a caveat. The day behind me has been a rough one. I can't get into detail with it for a host of reasons. I only point that out to explain my broader mood, and scattered process of thought. Rough days tend to mess me up in a host of ways, so I thought pointing that out at the beginning was worth doing. Now on to the post.
Agency
Agency was brought up on a podcast I subscribe to recently, (Shipping and Handling podcast episode 19 in case you want to know). It was described as one of the largest flaws the hosts see in submissions that come to their respective agencies. Specifically in the characters in the works submitted to them not having enough of it.
They described agency as being the ability of the characters, especially the main characters to have the ability to have control over their world and their choices and their responses. While I agree in general with the concept. I do think it runs into some serious opposition in fundamental ways. The typical wage slave in our current world has little agency under this definition. In many cases, the vast majority of their choices are bad or worse. In most of these cases, the stories that can result from these struggles can be compelling reading.
The person pushed up against the wall forced to make a horrible choice does not have much in the way of agency. Yet the narratives resulting from them are some of the best fiction I have ever read. Many tropes in fantasy and science fiction are based on this formula. The comply with evil or die trope has many derivatives and when written well are excellent.
In my view, agency is a negotiable thing based upon the overall arc of the story. A main character can have essentially no independent choices of their own, (Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee), for three novels and it still be fascinating reading. On some level if the character has no ability to make a choice a part from the fate thrust upon them, then the story telling needs to bear this out. In other words, I think if agency is constricted or constrained somehow, then the overall narrative must increase, and the narrative needs to propel the character forward in seat of the pants fashion.
I do agree that agency needs to be a consideration, but it should be one consideration among many in the process of telling a story. There are items that can trump agency, but they should be used sparingly and for good reason. Agency should not be ignored or treated lightly.
Agency
Agency was brought up on a podcast I subscribe to recently, (Shipping and Handling podcast episode 19 in case you want to know). It was described as one of the largest flaws the hosts see in submissions that come to their respective agencies. Specifically in the characters in the works submitted to them not having enough of it.
They described agency as being the ability of the characters, especially the main characters to have the ability to have control over their world and their choices and their responses. While I agree in general with the concept. I do think it runs into some serious opposition in fundamental ways. The typical wage slave in our current world has little agency under this definition. In many cases, the vast majority of their choices are bad or worse. In most of these cases, the stories that can result from these struggles can be compelling reading.
The person pushed up against the wall forced to make a horrible choice does not have much in the way of agency. Yet the narratives resulting from them are some of the best fiction I have ever read. Many tropes in fantasy and science fiction are based on this formula. The comply with evil or die trope has many derivatives and when written well are excellent.
In my view, agency is a negotiable thing based upon the overall arc of the story. A main character can have essentially no independent choices of their own, (Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee), for three novels and it still be fascinating reading. On some level if the character has no ability to make a choice a part from the fate thrust upon them, then the story telling needs to bear this out. In other words, I think if agency is constricted or constrained somehow, then the overall narrative must increase, and the narrative needs to propel the character forward in seat of the pants fashion.
I do agree that agency needs to be a consideration, but it should be one consideration among many in the process of telling a story. There are items that can trump agency, but they should be used sparingly and for good reason. Agency should not be ignored or treated lightly.
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