Stereotypes--I'm phobic about them. But can a MINOR character be one--

[carole gill]

if they move the plot along?
Let me be clear. There are minor characters who are:
a former Madam and two of her girls and a couple of Mob type guys.
Would those kinds of people be considered to be stereotypical?
my novel takes place in the early 1950's btw.
Your thoughts--writers AND readers?

[I. J. Parker]

What's stereotypical about post-war depression? You might as well add post-traumatic stress syndrome. I just used that for an 18th century setting. War is war.

[carole gill]

sorry, bad phrasing on my part.
I'll edit.
No, what I mean is in this sort of novel there are (minor characters) a former Madam, prostitutes--and a mob guy.
I read so much about not using stereotypes--and so on, that I just got nervous.

[John McFetridge]

Avoiding a cliche can stand out as much as including one.

[carole gill]

John! Leave it to you to light up this (angst ridden on my part) discussion!
REALLY?!
So in other words if you have Mob guys who are Hungarians and not a Madam, but the Queen of the gypsies who did occasionally dip into procuring les femmes for sex-mad fortune-telling clients--THAT might become the cliche?
See, I edited it because I totally confused I.J.!

[carole gill]

Naomi, thank you!
I'm so paranoid--just a bit nuts, questioning too much!
I see and I agree with you.
so glad you replied.

[Dana King]

One-dimensional stereotypes would be a problem. Characters that have some of the aspects of the stereotype, but other, less expected characteristics, should work fine. Remember, stereotypes came from somewhere; people didn't just decide to invent them. If you're worried about a mobster seeming stereotypical, give him some endearing quality. (Tony Soprano loved animals.) The hooker with a heart of gold can say all the right things, but show herselfto be uncaring in some way. Have some fun with it.

[carole gill]

Dana, thanks.
Just over-worried I guess!
I agree and will take on board what you say, makes a lot of sense!

[Tom Barclay]

In Chicago, mobs in the 1950s were not just Italian. There were Irish and Polish and Czech and black outfits. In St. Louis there were all of the above, plus a growing Lebanese contingent.

Another thing to remember about stereotypes is how they come into use - and that's because there's some truth to them.

[carole gill]

thanks Tom!
great reply and I appreciate it.
I like that, yes there is truth in them.
didn't know that about the other ethnic groups in Chicago. but it makes a lot of sense.