Are cultural differences off putting in a story ?

[AmbreaTaddy]

Hello !

To explain a bit, I'm french. So my culture and what I am used to is obviously very different from what people from other countries are used to. If I have one advantage, though, it's that a lot of content on the internet is in english or translated in english (and not in french), so I had to learn english from a young age to access a lot of stories and content. Because of that I learned very early the cultural differences with english speaking countries and got used to it.

Now I can read a story taking place in the US and don't stop every minute to think "Wait, is it normal ? Is it how it is done ?"

I was a bit taken aback by asian stories though. When I read my first webnovel I was really confused because the culture is so different and things are not at all like they are here, so a lot of things didn't make sense to me. Of course, the author didn't pause to explain, it was an asian author aiming primarily for asian audiences.

It's embarrassing to say but it took me way too long to finish this novel.

Now, years later, I'm used to all of that and I even started writing my own novels. But this subject kept popping up in my head since I now write a story in english but it takes place in France with all the cultural differences it entails. Is my story confusing or off putting for people from other countries ? Are other people like me or am I the only one who has had a hard time with this subject ?

Well, all of that to ask : Do you also sometimes have trouble with stories that are set in a different culture or not at all ? Do you have doubts about the setting of your story ?

 

[ElijahRyne]

Hello !

To explain a bit, I'm french. So my culture and what I am used to is obviously very different from what people from other countries are used to. If I have one advantage, though, it's that a lot of content on the internet is in english or translated in english (and not in french), so I had to learn english from a young age to access a lot of stories and content. Because of that I learned very early the cultural differences with english speaking countries and got used to it.

Now I can read a story taking place in the US and don't stop every minute to think "Wait, is it normal ? Is it how it is done ?"

I was a bit taken aback by asian stories though. When I read my first webnovel I was really confused because the culture is so different and things are not at all like they are here, so a lot of things didn't make sense to me. Of course, the author didn't pause to explain, it was an asian author aiming primarily for asian audiences.

It's embarrassing to say but it took me way too long to finish this novel.

Now, years later, I'm used to all of that and I even started writing my own novels. But this subject kept popping up in my head since I now write a story in english but it takes place in France with all the cultural differences it entails. Is my story confusing or off putting for people from other countries ? Are other people like me or am I the only one who has had a hard time with this subject ?

Well, all of that to ask : Do you also sometimes have trouble with stories that are set in a different culture or not at all ? Do you have doubts about the setting of your story ?

It might take some time to adjust, but I don’t really see different cultures in stories as off putting.

 

[AmbreaTaddy]

Do you usually go with the flow of the story or do you research a bit about the culture ? I'm just curious

 

[ElijahRyne]

Do you usually go with the flow of the story or do you research a bit about the culture ? I'm just curious

Just read it, usually if I am reading a translation, the translator will explain some stuff. Occasionally I might search something if I am confused.

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

Nope, it is usually a spike of fun and new information to have.

 

[Clo]

Hello my distant sibling from France. I am of the weirder, Canadian brand of French!

I love learning new things. So I always love stories set in other parts of the world.

One story I read recentlty, (Be A Girl) is set in Australia, so Winter is in June, and Summer when it's Christmas, and the author never bats an eye at these facts, but it made me do a double take, because you don't often read stories where the south hemisphere's seasons come into play.

I set my current story in the Pacific North West. Hopefully, people unfamiliar with life in Seatle, Vancouver or Portland will learn things from it.

So if you write something:
- Please teach us new things
- and remember: write about what you know. So if you know French culture? Then show if to us.

And yes, that means throwing verlan in there!

 

[AmbreaTaddy]

Ow, I guess you're right. I might be too anxious for my own good
I don't know how to quote, this forum is confusing D:

Clo : I see ! Well to be honest I was very affraid to do things like this, but if you say so, I might try a little bit !

 

[Clo]

Be unapologetically you in your writing.

You voice matters, and is uniquely yours. So don't try to neuter yourself to write in ways that have the broadest appeal, as that's a fool's errand.

Aim to please everyone, and you will make a soulless work that pleases nobody. The decades-old anime Comic Party is still my go-to for motivating myself to write things that resonate with me, instead of what sells.

There is, somewhere, an audience for what you have to say.

...The hard part is finding it.

But writing things you want to tell, and things you know? That will motivate you to keep writing.

And that's priceless.

 

[plot_xc]

I really like the variations on culture while reading so I don't have any problems, sometimes I don't know the meaning but i catch it later on or i search the meaning myself, if I am searching something from the story, just know that I am invested

 

[CharlesEBrown]

As long as they at least FEEL accurate, as if the author has experienced them, or studied them well enough to "fake it". Some of the audionovels my wife listens to try to mimic Western culture but exaggerate some bits, ignore others, and do it all with Eastern values behind the scenes, and it is often very jarring.

 

[AmbreaTaddy]

As long as they at least FEEL accurate, as if the author has experienced them, or studied them well enough to "fake it". Some of the audionovels my wife listens to try to mimic Western culture but exaggerate some bits, ignore others, and do it all with Eastern values behind the scenes, and it is often very jarring.

I 100% understand what you mean. It happens to me a lot when in a story the protagonist goes to France and the description is not at all like France, it makes my skin crawl

 

[Anonjohn20]

Hello !

To explain a bit, I'm french. So my culture and what I am used to is obviously very different from what people from other countries are used to. If I have one advantage, though, it's that a lot of content on the internet is in english or translated in english (and not in french), so I had to learn english from a young age to access a lot of stories and content. Because of that I learned very early the cultural differences with english speaking countries and got used to it.

Now I can read a story taking place in the US and don't stop every minute to think "Wait, is it normal ? Is it how it is done ?"

I was a bit taken aback by asian stories though. When I read my first webnovel I was really confused because the culture is so different and things are not at all like they are here, so a lot of things didn't make sense to me. Of course, the author didn't pause to explain, it was an asian author aiming primarily for asian audiences.

It's embarrassing to say but it took me way too long to finish this novel.

Now, years later, I'm used to all of that and I even started writing my own novels. But this subject kept popping up in my head since I now write a story in english but it takes place in France with all the cultural differences it entails. Is my story confusing or off putting for people from other countries ? Are other people like me or am I the only one who has had a hard time with this subject ?

Well, all of that to ask : Do you also sometimes have trouble with stories that are set in a different culture or not at all ? Do you have doubts about the setting of your story ?

The culture of the author doesn't matter; the culture of the setting it takes place in does. From what I'm understanding, it should be fine, maybe even preferable, if the characters had French mannerisms, styles, palates, and expressions. Use your French culture if they are in France.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

I love reading about other cultures, especially when it comes to parenting. In fiction, things can get confusing when I notice obviously Western parenting practices, such as *completely* weaning a child before it can talk in the absence of formula. I've read that the shortest people in the world start weaning children at 10 months, but that's not complete weaning. The kids still keep nursing into toddlerhood, but they're not nursed as frequently.

 

[Shiriru_B]

Now, years later, I'm used to all of that and I even started writing my own novels. But this subject kept popping up in my head since I now write a story in english but it takes place in France with all the cultural differences it entails. Is my story confusing or off putting for people from other countries ? Are other people like me or am I the only one who has had a hard time with this subject ?

Well, all of that to ask : Do you also sometimes have trouble with stories that are set in a different culture or not at all ? Do you have doubts about the setting of your story ?

No, I don't think cultural differences are off putting maybe for very new readers since they would be finding their taste and such but if I had to say for the veteran readers they'd pretty much read anything that'll give that sweet sweet sense of fresh air when it comes to foreign novels.




Also if you want to quote someone press the quote button on the bottom right of their post, then going down to where you write, you press the "insert quote". Hope this helps

 

[AmbreaTaddy]

Also if you want to quote someone press the quote button on the bottom right of their post, then going down to where you write, you press the "insert quote". Hope this helps

I FOUND IT ! Thank you !

 

[Shiriru_B]

I FOUND IT ! Thank you !

No problem, welcome to Scribblehub

 

[beast_regards]

Not really. Or perhaps it depends.

In case of the anime and manga, characters aren't actually expected to act as the real people, they are expected to act as the anime character where everything is exaggerated either for comedic or dramatic purposes (which are often one and the same). Not even Japanese consider it normal, even if it would be offensive normally, because, well, anime characters behave like anime characters, there are convention and tropes to follow which no one questions, and no one dares to challenge. (most of the time) Said tropes are of course assigned also to the characters that are supposed to be foreigners, because, well, Japan gotta Japan ...

 

[Daydreamers]

there is not that much difference for it be off putting, unless you are from the middle east or some culture that isn't well explored and people have a lot of negative stereotypes toward. for me personally i don't care , as long as the story is good, also I've read a lot of french novels or " des romans"

 

[istryj]

If we take anime as an example, the effect it has on a newcomer, comparable to a bomb explosion, occurs because it reveals an entirely new facet of familiar phenomena—one they’ve never seen before. Stepping beyond the cultural norms that shaped you— is that good or bad?