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Snarf Posted 14 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing

Taking Liberties in Over-the-Top, Surreal Comedies

Can the non-factual be used in surreal, absurdist humour to add to the satirical nature of a scene or story, for example, pleading “not guilty” in a civil, rather than criminal, trial, which entails a completely outrageous, riotous, unreal courtroom scene that would never actually occur in real life? Or would the writer just come off as erroneous and ignorant as to how the judicial system works? Again, we’re talking about a context of over-the-top humour here.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

You can do anything in fiction that affects your readers they way you want it to. Fiction by definition is non-factual.

— Mister Micawber

  • You can do anything in fiction that affects your readers they way you want it to.
  • Fiction by definition is non-factual.
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6 Answers
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You can do anything in fiction that affects your readers they way you want it to. Fiction by definition is non-factual.
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Interesting. Would you make that claim regarding dramatic and serious fiction as well?
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Is science fiction serious fiction? Why or why not?
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I think it can be very serious, yes. But let’s say you’re reading a mystery novel of murder and investigation, and certain processes and law procedures described are simply not how it actually works in real life. Is that okay to do for the purposes of the narration, given it is a fictional story? Or should not the writer be as factual and realistic in the matter as possible to the most minute deta
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There's no rule, Snarf. Some writers do and some don't. Some readers will notice and/or care, and others will not. Some writers revel in meticulous detail, but others (and some great ones) do not bother at all. I don't see how anyone can make a definitive pronouncement on what works and what does not. Obviously, gross variances from reality will turn the work into some kind of fantasy, but be
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I think Tom Stoppard let one of his secrets out in Rosencrantz: "Audiences know what to expect, and that's all they're prepared to believe in." As long as your courtroom procedure falls in line with your readers' ideas about all that, you're golden, whether or not it has any basis in reality.
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