Symbolic Writing

Hello! I'm avatarblade2000!

I'm slightly new here, and the whole time I was signing on to the site, I was hoping that there would be a writer's thread or two up here - AND THANK THE LORD, THERE IS! *prays thankfully* Now, I'd like to ask all my fellow writers a question or two...

I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with LORD OF THE RINGS and THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, written by two of the world's greatest Christian writers: not only are they great fantasy epics, but they are also SYMBOLIC masterpieces, presenting Christian truths and themes in greatly dynamic symbolism...while sometimes symbolism can give me a headache trying to figure out, it is still my favorite genre in literature.

Big surprise, then, that that is exactly the kind of stories that I am writing. They're not all exclusively fantasy (though one of my major projects IS), but they ARE straight-up symbolism (that sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it?). I feel that in our time symbolism could really be taken advantage of, and that God has called me to write such stories. The question that I've wondered for a while now is: IS ANYONE ELSE WRITING SYMBOLIC STORIES?

If you are, let's congregate like Christians should! Synopses, story snippets, what's being symbolized, whatever you feel like putting up, you can. This is your chance to get that known!

Thanks, and God bless you guys!

The big symbolic project that I'm writing is based upon the American slump in ethics; it chronicles our descent into sinfulness and how our policy of tolerating every angry group that came along practically neutered us as a nation to be taken seriously. Christian morals nearly gone and forgotten, this is one of the best times to really hit the issues in the gut where it's needed, really wake people up as to what evil is going on in the world just because people are lazy/naive/inactive toward it.

What makes it symbolic is that it's portrayed in a fantasy setting, simply because I can. The main point that the story gets across is that all it takes to make a difference in the world is the action of one person, even if it is a kid that no one trusts or believes in; all you need is God in your heart and pushing you forward to get that job done.

The story is written so that all these analogies aren't spelled out for everyone, but just enough gets through that the audience should recognize what is being talked about; the thing is, though, I hope that once people actually realize those facts that when they really relate to the main character, those issues will actually be put into perspective for them, so that they will actually understand them, become involved mentally and spiritually with them, that they will be motivated to do something about them...

...I hope that put things into perspective. Does anyone have a similar story, a similar storytelling style, anything like that? I'm sure that people would like to hear it.

...

*sigh*

Look, Megachihuahua, you are entitled to your opinion as an American - I will respect that to the end - but honestly, if you can't say anything productive/constructive/all-around benign, REFRAIN. You don't HAVE to be here. If you don't like something, DON'T COMMENT ON IT. Read it, leave it, hate it in private. That simple. You don't like symbolism? Don't READ it, don't try to ruin it for those who like/love it, and don't pretend to know everything about it and use that so-called knowledge just to turn people off to it.

We're trying to keep a benevolent environment here at Christian Forums, and you should know that, being you've been here since 2003; even if it was not your original intentions, all this post comes off as is nothing more than a malignant attempt to disrupt that benevolence. These are Christian forums, after all, and being as you've made it a point to show everyone that you are one no longer, then you don't necessarily have to comment in one. Find a forum to your liking that doesn't hack you off, otherwise you're just hacking off everyone else.

Believe what you like, say what you like; you're still my sibling in Christ, and I'm still going to love you like one, and I'm still going to pray for you - and I'm still going to write symbolism.

ANYWAY...

"Monsters can't really be much other than symbolism."

...although, in today's film industry, they've kind of been reduced to mindless templates. It's never an issue of "Let's make a movie about THIS issue (teenaged angst, strained marriage, taking charge of your life, etc.), and put a monster here to symbolize/complicate that," it's "Let's make a new horror film and bank off of this trend (it would be zombie films for these last few years)." Very sad, very maddening. Monsters are supposed to be more than that.

Thank you, rasplundjr . I'm familiar with what you're doing from other threads (everyone, "Horror and Modern High Fantasy are these acceptable genres for Christians to write?" is a good one to visit if you're interested), and would very much like to learn more about them, if you don't mind me asking.

"Teh Bible says not to judge."

I'm well aware of this, which is why I DIDN'T. That was said out of LOVE, nothing more, nothing JUDGMENTAL about it.

Anyway...

"Okay what would you like to know?"

Yeah, anything. Specific, I should say, and by that, I mean, what are some of the stories that you've written? Synopses, summaries, breakdowns, nightmarish-inspirations, whatever you would feel like elaborating upon. Always welcoming new ideas, you know.

rasplundjr, I like your ideas more and more. Nice take on the werewolf genre, very cool. What symbol/metaphor/truth exactly are you going for? That we're all human, despite how we look or how different we seem down the road, forward and backward (your weres), and that we all need to help one another (your hunter), otherwise some lunatic's gonna come along and ruin everything (your rogue weres)? And, if you don't mind me asking, is it macro- or micro-evolution that you believe in?

"A Lot of my stories are still in work... I have a horrible problem with getting distracted by this idea or that for a new storyline, I have written litterlay thousands of pages of materil, sadly that is also across hundreds if not thousands of stories... I'm alos plagued frequently with perfectionists block (I can wirte it but I keep rewriting trying to make it perfect instead of leaving it the heck alone)."

I know EXACTLY how you feel, every word of it. It's awful, isn't it? Don't worry; with a little prayer, little bit more time, we'll both get at least one of those finished.

..and Slina, I'm liking your idea too. Immortality is definitely a good source of literature, and this story of yours intrigues me. Funny thing about the Fountain of Youth is, it really can't help but be a symbol of some kind (although, with it being done over and over again, some people who don't care about what it symbolizes just throw it in there as some sloppy space-filler and completely ruins its reasons for being there...oh well). I don't reall have a level of symbolism that I work on, but some stories have more than others: my epic project, though, it's almost pure allegory (thanks, by the way, for saying that: I couldn't, for the life of me, remember that word)...

Since you're writing a story on immortality and the Fountain, maybe you'd be interested in this movie that's coming out soon called THE FOUNTAIN, starring Rachel Weiz and Hugh Jackman (great actors). It's about the search for the Fountain of Youth, and is spans several hundred years - and is a love story. It's kind of iffy, though, because it has to deal with reincarnation too, I think...but anyway.

That's right!

First of all, honibee, yes, I've noticed that the best symbolism is aimed at children, and for good reasons: symbolism can often sugarcoat issues for children that they would not be able to handle just as they were, and they can also present familiar concepts in new - and, most importantly, fun - ways for kids to get into them again. Take THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. This was applicable to children on so many levels because it wasn't a Sunday school lesson taught by a tired old teacher who didn't want to be there (and I don't mean by any means that is how all Sunday school teachers are, because I've had a great deal of good ones): it was fun, easy to get into, kept kids in a world they didn't want to leave (just like the kids in the story as well)... It allows a bridge of sorts for children into adulthood, by giving issues and situations that adults have to deal with to a much younger generation in a much more digestable way, so that, in essence, this new generation will be somewhat more prepared for what is to come. God bless you for bringing this aspect of symbolism up, honibee, I loved being reminded of it!

And second of all, symbolism applies to adults as well, if done right. Blessed-One, among others, in right in pointing out its many difficulties. I don't care how many people want to deny it, most every adult still has an inner child: if you don't believe me, look at the tantrums that all the supposed "adults" are throwing in government and high-ranking positions and tell me they aren't children. God and history have proven time and again that adults can be just as childish in their behaviors and beliefs as younger generations (read your Bible if you don't believe me), and God, time and again, had to appeal to our childish thought-processes by the use of - you guessed it - symbolism. Don't believe me? Read any book in the Bible, especially the book of Revelation.

Some issues and situations just can't be taken as they are; they have to be presented differently, whether in a different guise or in a sugarcoated manner, to get one's point across. I can name a hundred issues that America is having trouble with that Christians have stood up against, but haven't really gotten their points across. I earnestly believe that symbolism is a device to be used in the war against modern America's tolerance to evil; presenting issues in literature and media as symbols rather than what we see them as everyday will get the point across, even to adults, I'm willing to stake my left foot on it. That's why I write it, and that's why I will continue to write it.

Symbolism isn't about intelligence; it isn't about writing a story that is supposed to be smarter than any other on the best-seller's list. It's just about getting people AWARE of what you are talking about, even if it is in a round-about way. The best symbolism is from and for God, and He's especially famous for it.