Sensitive Subjects

Hello friends,

Browsing through discussion forums is my way of scooping up news and opinions on many themes.
An author friend of mine ask the following question and it got heavily discussed:
"Are events like 9/11 suitable as 'backdrop' for a book or movie?"
Some people argued that 9/11 hit too close to home to be used as material in the entertainment business. Others thought that it was too early, that people need more time to heal from such horrible attacks and aren't ready to watch a movie/ read a book of this theme.
On the other hand, somebody claimed that it shouldn't matter due to the fact that it's impossible to please everyone in the audience.
I disagree; with all of the above.

War and terror, the viciousness of serial killers, and other 'unfortunate events' have been used in many books and movies ever since they've been written.
Granted, pieces which have stories using WW1, WW2, Vietnam, Korea, and so on, as a backdrop 'outlived' by now many people but I don't believe we authors have the obligation of a 'waiting period' until we can work with real life events.
What we are obligated to do however, is to keep the integrity of the victims and tact in how we tell the story.
In 'Relocating Mia' I used the Gulf War and the War of the Bosnians to explain my character's combat experience. Even though I just skimmed the subject in my novel, I still did my research to make sure I've got my facts straight.

To be evil is human nature. Luckily most of us are able to suppress our 'evil spirit' and have a handle on what's right and wrong. Bad things happen every day and some of it will be used for documentaries or to entertain through a 'fiction' as in movie or novel.
I find, that as long authors and movie makers are respectful toward the people who fell victim, we ought to be able to work any real life event into our work, without having to wait a certain amount of time until we can touch a 'Sensitive Subject'.

Comments on this issue are welcome!
Rebecca~
www.rebeccalerwill.com