[bksvol-discuss] Re: My novel
- From: "Chris Hofstader" <cdh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:06:06 -0400
Our little cashier vignette is morally ambiguous. We do not say that the
PWVI who pulls the con is doing anything good, it is just an example of
reversing a situation and allowing a blind person to be a bit slimy.
Didn't any of you enjoy the great performances by Paul Newman and Robert
Redford in "The Sting," Paul Newman in "The Hustler," Steve Martin in "Dirty
Rotten Scoundrels," Robert Redford in "Grifters" or any of the other
terrific stories which depicted the confidence man as the hero? Certainly,
there was a lot of Dashiell Hammett, noire, style moral ambiguity but that
is part of what made these films so entertaining and why Hammett's books are
taught in most of the best writing programs at the top universities around
the English speaking world.
I'm not trying to compare myself to the great author of the hard boiled,
noire genre but, in my opinion at least, PWVI are rarely written as people
with much depth or diversity of conscience.
I think Mike May's book does a good job of breaking some boundaries as does
the one by the cranky low vision guy from New York whose name escapes me at
the moment.
So, I like writing things that play around with role reversals, with issues
of questionable moral character and an edge that I enjoy and hope other
readers do as well. My personal life, however, is so boring that I can
hardly imagine being involved in the actions about which I will write - it's
fun, its exploration, its funny, sad, disgusting, outrageous and very much
gonzo.
cdh
Chris Hofstader
CUNY, BSO, ATG, Odds and Ends
email: cdh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Blog: http://www.blindconfidential.blogspot.com
Skype: BlindChristian
phone: 727-896-6393
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Chris Feist
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 5:14 PM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: My novel
HI, E. I'm in total agreement... such behavior would be unethical and
slimy, (to say the leasst). Oh well. People can write whatever they want
to, though. Smile. BTW, there's nothing wrong with being old fashioned. I
think it's great.
Chris Feist - The one and only!
-----Original Message-----
On Behalf Of E.
This is an example where one person's humor is far from funny to somebody
else. I have a different take on the scene you describe.
Call me old fashioned.
To me it seems unethical and somewhat slimy.
Forgive me for sounding insulting. I just disagree about the described scene
being amusing.
E.
At 10:12 AM 6/26/2008, you wrote:
>This is being written/edited by two PWVI with pretty thick skins and
>strong senses of humor.
>
>When you mentioned the getting incorrect change from the cashier
>problem, I thought of one of our chapters where we pay for something
>with a ten dollar bill, listen to the cashier count out the change and,
>with outrageous indignation, we insist we paid with a twenty. The
>manager comes over, gives us our extra ten and we leave getting the
>product for free and entertaining the other customers. I don't know
>anyone who has actually done this but we thought it would make for a
>funny scene. Turning the tables on those who would cheat or wrong one of
us will be the theme of a number of vignettes.
>
>If you have any stories that you would let us use, please send them along.
>We will edit them to make the stories sound like they are coming from
>the voices of the authors/editors and we will need a release form as we
>cannot pay for extra work contributed by other storytellers as we're
>pretty certain to lose money on this gig anyway.
>
>Anyone else with funny anecdotes or stupid sighted people tricks or
>experience testing the accessibility of a nudie bar or have found
>yourself dancing with a stranger whom you thought was your date and
>having a pile of fun in the process, stories about firearms and other
>weapons used by PWVI are often entertaining too so please send them to
>us and at least get a mention in the dedication page.
>
>Blind driving stories should fill an entire section too.
>
>We're trying to use "true" stories but remember that truth can be
>disguised by facts.
>
>
>cdh
>
>
>
>
>Chris Hofstader
>CUNY, BSO, ATG, Odds and Ends
>email: cdh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Blog: http://www.blindconfidential.blogspot.com
>Skype: BlindChristian
>phone: 727-896-6393
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of E.
>Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 7:29 AM
>To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: My novel
>
>I guess my only concern is one person's fun can be another's cruelty.
>
>Think of what some would call harassment and others would call fun for
>example.
>
>Such things might include people shouting out of cars such things as
>
>"Watch where you are going? Are you blind or something?" at a person
>traveling with a white cane or guide dog.
>
>E.
>
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