Poll: Hating a setting. Possible?

[SamuelT]

Yes. Another thread about stories and books. Cry some more.


Me and a mate were arguing a while back on settings. I mentioned that I didn't like the western setting, and he presented the argument that a setting could not be hated.

Many, many words followed. Not all kindly.

http://listverse.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/argument-380x258-tm.jpg
Like this, only with more AWESOMENESS.

Essentially, my statement is that the setting in which a story, we're talking Novel-and-movie wise here, is placed can ruin an entire story for you. I have never seen or read a story that was placed in the western setting and kept me entertained for longer than a couple of seconds. And there are the people that say "I hate fantasy" or "I hate Sci-fi. It's so unrealistic!" which indicates that, no matter the plot, a setting can ruin the story for someone.

His statement is that, no matter the setting, the plot, it's characters and all the good stuff are what make a story good, and any setting can be presented in such a way that even the most hated setting can be liked. Such as the haters of Sci-fi can love Star Wars, because of the funkey characters, or Lord of the Rings has such an epic world that it trancends the haters of Fantasy.

So I ask thee, Escapist. Who was right all along?

 

[eggy32]

A setting can be hated or disliked. Setting and atmosphere are a massive part of story telling and if they put you off them you won't be able to concentrate on the actual story and characters.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

So now i have another reason to hate the hell out of Twilight.

 

[Marter]

Sometimes the setting is more of a character than any of the people involved. It is most certainly possible to hate a setting.

 

[Billion Backs]

Yes, setting can be a major fucking annoyance.

 

[The Random One]

Of course you can dislike a setting. Even because a setting implies a series of tropes that you may not like. For instance, you may not like westerns because it focuses on, um, long shots of wastelands and people shooting each other? I dunno. Anyway, those are not defining characteristics of the setting, but they're very common, so if you don't like them you're unlikely to enjoy anything in that setting. That doesn't mean you never will; maybe one day you'll find a western that ignores all the tropes you dislike, and you'll like it despite it being a western.

Otherwise, we couldn't love settings, either. And I know I love cyberpunk and steampunk and modern fantasy (though not EVERY work in those settings, naturally, so loving a setting is even looser than hating if, for what it's worth).

 

[thylasos]

Setting is context, not content. Provided the content is sufficiently entertaining, the context can be dull as hell.

 

[Tzekelkan]

From the other replies, I don't think people really understood your question. I mean, sure, it's possible to hate the setting in a particular work, but I think it's rather foolish to say "I hate all games/books/movies that happen in a certain place/period." It all depends on how well it's crafted and how well the characters and other narrative elements fit in.

My favourite setting is a futuristic dystopia.
Never got the chance to read or watch something with that setting though.

I hope that was some massive sarcasm.

 

[SamuelT]

From the other replies, I don't think people really understood your question. I mean, sure, it's possible to hate the setting in a particular work, but I think it's rather foolish to say "I hate all games/books/movies that happen in a certain place/period." It all depends on how well it's crafted and how well the characters and other narrative elements fit in.

Hey man, I was winning over here. Don't ruin the magic!

I kid, I kid.

If any of you misunderstood, it's essentially what Tzelksekslekszan over here said. Hating a setting in the form of "I don't like that because it is an X. Everything's fine, but because it's an X I hate it."

 

[rokkolpo]

i think your mate is right.

i too hate western, but wild wild west was AWESOME!

 

[rokkolpo]

My favourite setting is a futuristic dystopia.
Never got the chance to read or watch something with that setting though.

I hope that was some massive sarcasm.

No it was not.
My favourite day dreams and fantasies are set in futuristic dystopias.

V for Vendetta.

although not That far in the future.

 

[Tzekelkan]

My favourite setting is a futuristic dystopia.
Never got the chance to read or watch something with that setting though.

I hope that was some massive sarcasm.

No it was not.
My favourite day dreams and fantasies are set in futuristic dystopias.

Yes, I understand but... I can't think of any setting used more often than futuristic dystopias. I mean, off the top of my head, Half Life 2, V for Vendetta, Matrix, 1984, Mirror's Edge, Watchmen, Equilibrium, Bioshock (ok, it's pseudo-futuristic) etc. It's one of my favourite settings as well.

 

[mad825]

well a setting cannot be hated a such but what can be said is that a person can become bored or not be interested.

by implying you hate a film/book because of it's setting would mean that you have a critical opinion about the film/book rather than a personal one, because someone has no interest in a particular activity doesn't imply that they hate it.

 

[crudus]

The setting is sometimes more important than characters since it can give motivation or make their interactions make sense.

 

[Tzekelkan]

My favourite setting is a futuristic dystopia.
Never got the chance to read or watch something with that setting though.

I hope that was some massive sarcasm.

No it was not.
My favourite day dreams and fantasies are set in futuristic dystopias.

Yes, I understand but... I can't think of any setting used more often than futuristic dystopias. I mean, off the top of my head, Half Life 2, V for Vendetta, Matrix, 1984, Mirror's Edge, Watchmen, Equilibrium, Bioshock (ok, it's pseudo-futuristic) etc. It's one of my favourite settings as well.

Quantity does not equate to a decline in quality.

I'm sorry, what? I was just expressing my astonishment at you saying you've never read/watched anything in a futuristic dystopia, when there are so many works using that particular setting. Did you really never try any of the examples I mentioned? If not, you should as you'd probably like them.

EDIT: Ah, okay, I saw your edit and understood. Fair enough

 

[Z(ombie)fan]

I voted for your friend.

beyond that, if I DID agree with you, I would vote vote for your friend because your poll means I have to think your a stunningly handsome god in order to agree with you.

which is a no both ways.

 

[TehCookie]

With movies I have a harder time hating a setting but any video game that takes place in a war zone I instantly hate it. When I ask myself why I can't even find an answer, I just detest them for some unknown reason.

 

[SamuelT]

I voted for your friend.

beyond that, if I DID agree with you, I would vote vote for your friend because your poll means I have to think your a stunningly handsome god in order to agree with you.

which is a no both ways.

Juuust curious, how do you know my appearance?

 

[BlindMessiah94]

I suppose its possible for someone to hate an entire setting or genre...but seriously that just screams close mindedness to me.

Some shows have great storylines, characters, etc. You'd be doing yourself a disservice to not give them a chance simply because they are in a setting that you normally don't enjoy.

Firefly is a Sci-Fi western but is great.
I normally hate westerns too, but I loved that show.

 

[cheese_wizington]

You can hate anything you like. Although "hate" is a very strong word.