This week Kelly and JJ continue with their characterization series with VILLAINS. Apologies for the audio quality this week, folks; this topic is apparently cursed as Kelly and JJ tried to record it TWICE and FAILED. Also, spoilers ahoy for Star Wars, Harry Potter, LOST, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, et al.
Show Notes
The difference between a protagonist and a villain is standing on opposite sides of a moral divide.
There are two types of villains: the idealogical villain (e.g. Sauron, Voldemort, Evil) and the personal villain (characters with a personal motive that sets them against the protagonist).
Villains often lack empathy, in that they often don't have empathy for others, don't care about collateral damage, etc.
Antagonists differ from villains in that they are not necessarily on the opposite side of the moral divide, but are in opposition to the protagonist nonetheless. Antagonists are in opposition to the protagonist, but are not necessarily Evil themselves.
Stories do not necessarily need villains. Obstacles can be in the form of societal conduct, circumstance, or some external conflict that has nothing to do with a singular villain, or even villains.
Books Discussed/What We're Reading
Little Face by Sophie Hannah
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Watchmen by Alan Moore
The 13 ½ Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers
The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Morning Star by Pierce Brown
What We're Working On
JJ finished what she hopes are the last round of additional edits/copyedits of Wintersong.
Kelly is working on ALL THE PODCASTS! In addition to an Avatar: The Last Airbender podcast (with JJ and another friend), she has a parenting podcast called World's Okayest Moms. Follow them on Twitter!
Off Menu Recommendations
That's all for this week! Hopefully next week we'll have better audio quality and come back with another series on characterization with LOVE INTERESTS AND ANCILLARY CHARACTERS.
26. Characterization: Villains