Unstuffing the Fridge

[ysabetwordsmith]

... leads to better writing.

Though I have to admit, I am often entertained by the reversal -- killing a male character to motivate a female -- which I like to call Stuffed into a Dryer.

Comments

[brushwolf]

Oh wow, this didn't go in the direction I thought it was going to go. All of the sexism discussions meant I'd never thought about how ultimately dissatisfying to be expected to consider characters with no depth as motivations.

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Both points are valid. Fridging is sexist, and often unsatisfying.

In a poem, short story, or other concise venue there may be little time to establish the bit characters before they die. But in a novel, movie, TV series, etc. there is a lot more room. Similarly there are stylized modes of storytelling and more nuanced ones; some people prefer one or the other, some both. It is prudent to think about what you're doing and which techniques best serve the story.

I think it's true that fridging is often just plain lazy.

Developing characters in a little more depth will make their death more meaningful -- and usually more precise in its nature, followed by its effect on the protagonist. The type of relationship matters, the role that person had in their life. It's like watching a load-bearing wall crumble; you have to make the audience feel that weight coming down. Somehow.