Skillfully handled, a pageant of stereotypes portraying the dilemma of stereotyping could work. When one person or group stereotypes another person or a group, it often means that the stereotypers have stereotyped themselves right along with the others.

That’s an interesting problem, worthy of the concerted effort of “lived experience,” “a different sort of vision,” and language having the mind to get across.

I’ve spent a lot of time with Garcia Marquez over the past semester (not personally, silly; just with his texts) and I think he’s a master (among many) at embracing and trying to subvert such complexity as arises when cultures clash and people don’t quite have the language to confront/deal with/temper what’s going on. Part of this may have something to do with the deep tradition he’s writing from as a Colombian author whose life and history are rooted in and defined by turmoil as well as with his maturity and breadth as a writer. Mormonism, as theologically deep as it is, doesn’t quite have such cultural depth and complexity, though, I’m convinced, we’re moving slowly beyond adolescence into cultural maturity, as evidenced, in part, by the flourishing of Mormon writers, our willingness to more fully and openly confront difficult cultural issues (as those tied to race, gender, etc.), and the many Mormon studies programs popping up across the country.

“Otherwise Afflicted,” arising as it does from this maturing cultural tradition, seems to be afflicted by the lack of language I reference above. I’m convinced that earning this language is presupposed (as James comments) by the effort to “responsibly engag[e] with such issues” of race (and other difficult issues), and that we must learn “a great deal of compassion and [gain an] awareness of complexity” to get there. And these things (language expanded by compassion and an awareness and acceptance of cultural complexity) contribute to the “different sort of vision” James calls for and that Mormon artists may need if Mormon arts, letters, and culture are to flourish toward and help build Zion. Or even if we’re to produce those cultural greats we’re so obsessed with finding and that get referenced so often as to become (forgive me) cliche.

As a final note: I’m not saying that Mr. Evans isn’t compassionate and aware of complexity. I’m just suggesting that “Otherwise Afflicted” seems “stuck” (to borrow Th.’s term) in a somewhat stereotypical version of cultural/racial relations. Not that I’m necessarily unstuck, myself. But, like Th. also says, maybe getting stuck is part of the learning/maturing process. As long as being stuck doesn’t stick.

Or something like that.

I see this a lot too. I imagine it’s part of the process. First the white male writer realizes there is a problem. Then he has to work through it. A lot of us seem to get stuck there.

I saw a set of short plays about immigration in Provo recently: the ones from writers with minority backgrounds were gentle, humorous, and willing to embrace some complexity. The two by white male writers were angrier and stereotyped certain characters as prejudiced or clueless.

I don’t want to say that writers without personal experience shouldn’t engage racial issues. But I think responsibly engaging with such issues, for any writer, involves a great deal of compassion and awareness of complexity. It is not enough to write against racism. You’ve got to get a different sort of vision…

I don’t know. What do you think?

I felt like it was trying too hard to engage with “issues” without being sufficiently grounded in lived experience.

I also think the self-justification and defensiveness were unearned: no one is “making” her tell this story. Teenagers are most obnoxious when backed into corners. On their own, they are capable of incredible guilt and compassion.

That’s not to say one girl can’t be like this girl–but I feel like I’d get a lot more from hearing from a girl I can sympathize with and who is comfortable in confiding in me than I got out of this.

I think it would be really powerful to have a whole Young Women read this and discuss it. Maybe you would have to take out the B-I-T-C-H if you were doing it at church (though absurdity of that is readily conceded)(the spelling of it was a nice touch btw).

It made me squirm. Good job.

#6 really was quite funny.