Sharing a Narrative Viewpoint

[lightcastle]

Brought on by a discussion on another blog, I've been thinking about narrative viewpoint and whether I'm just viewing this from a lens of too much male privilege.

Do you assume that in a story you are *meant* to empathize/identify with the main character/protagonist. Please note that I am not saying you *will*. Do you go into a story and when it becomes clear the story is about some central character, assume that you are meant to be identifying with this character somewhat? Or do you think authors/filmmakers do not intend this to be the case?

Comments

[sevenhelz]

No, I assume I'm people-watching.

[lightcastle]

Could you say more?

[sevenhelz]

I suppose I read books assuming I'm meant to identify with the main character(s), but when I watch film or tv I tend to be more curious about the weird ways other people live their lives, if ya get me. Only if the lead has very reminiscent experiences will I start to identify. Don't know if it's always been that way or if it's learned - it's kind of like when you watch live performance, you want the performers to do well, you're with them, but you're not them, you don't know what they're going to do next.

[lightcastle]

Hmm.. That's interesting. I don't think I've ever heard anyone split it along those lines, but I can see where you're coming from on this.