Aladdin Central Messageboard

VampireNaomi · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:57 am Post subject:

Mary Sues are fascinating but the concept is really difficult to explain. The link Syera gave is really good, so I won't get into the explanation either.

The way the surroundings react to the character means just as much as the character herself, in my opinion. For example, in the Mozenrath fic I mentioned, the character was beautiful, a powerful sorceress, a princess and got married to Mozenrath. Those are pretty usual traits in Sues, but the author knew what she was doing and how to handle such a character.

On the other hand, I remember a character who was beautiful, didn't have magical powers, riches or status but acted like a bitch to Mozenrath AND got away with it and made him fall for her. In reality Mozenrath would just blast everyone he doesn't like or need with his gauntlet, so the character was, in a way, twisting the canon world to suit her wims. It may not sound obvious in my description, but she was definitely a Sue.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you can't just look at a character and make a list of their characteristics and then decide if they're a Sue or not. That's one reason why I think Mary Sue tests aren't very reliable and shouldn't be trusted blindly.

Also, is there an Aladdin specific Mary Sue test? I'd love to take a look.
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dazzeling diamond · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:41 am Post subject:

Thanks guys! I get the whole mary-sue ieda now!

Did anyone like my drawings?

Syera · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:59 am Post subject:

There was, at least. It used to be on this site, but I can't seem to find it anymore.

Interestingly enough, it seems that somebody found a different Aladdin Mary Sue test and posted it on this messageboard. Here's the link...

http://www.aladdincentral.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=241&sid=dd696e8b6ea662f9831feb80f0e2bf01
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VampireNaomi · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:17 am Post subject:

Syera · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:28 am Post subject:

Ah, so THAT'S where that got off to!

As for the art... it gives me the impression that what you are drawing is a mechanical reproduction of something you've seen before. This may not make much sense, but it's the best advice I have to offer: draw what you feel, not what you see. When you see someone posed, imagine how it would feel to be in that pose yourself. Imagine how your fingers would flow when tracing the contours. Don't try to mirror the source material by its appearance alone.

When drawing cartoon-like people, it's best to keep the lines as simple as possible. Drawing complete outlines of the facial features is generally a bad idea, as it gives it an overworked appearance. Rather, draw the most outstanding lines and leave it at that.
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Nez · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 2:05 pm Post subject:

I don't usually write original characters unless they are needed as a plot point and even then they don't steal the spotlight. The closet I got was Pestor, the villain in "A Fiend in Need" and he's barely in the story.

Now, I've got this story in my head involving Aladdin and Jasmine's children and a new bad guy. Hopefully, as soon as I finish "A Fiend in Need", I can get around to writing it. So far I have bits and pieces of the main plot.
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dazzeling diamond · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:03 pm Post subject:

well, with the drawings, I did draw what i felt, it took me awhile before I was happy witht he way Nadira nd Tali looked, and the way their clothes and facial features were I went through several of my own designs for them before I decided. I promise you they are my creations, not re-creations, even if they look like their posing.

AmethystFae · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:10 pm Post subject:

dazzeling diamond · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:17 pm Post subject:

Um, well I haven't taken any art classes, and don't really draw still life! I mostly draw people and portraits, sometimes animals!

Yeah, my style is very, well, fashoin type, because i want to be fashion designer, and there are lots of differences between a fashion drawing and a normal sketch, mine are more of the stylized style of drawing, that is the fashion type.

That's probably why it looks re-created, but I can assure you it's not!

The Evil Chalupa · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:26 pm Post subject:

I'm sorry, I'm not going to click links to because my computer's on the fritz again, HOWEVER....

Still lifes are an annoyance, but my art teacher claims that they will help us improve blah blah blah, especially when we want to daw cartoons and the like.

............................... and she's right. Augh! I hate it when someone else is right!

Oh, and... I took that Mary-Sue test for my fan character of Aladdin (Which I only use for RPs... no fan fic writings for me) and the character got a score less than 10. SHE GOT AN EIGHT! OMFG, I'M SO HAPPY!

The only reasons she got points was... because she could fly... without wings... had traits of her parents... her parents are cannon characters... and... ummm... erm... I forgot the other thing... -thinks- Oh, and because she lived with cannon characters. =D

Yes, you can shoot me.
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AmethystFae · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:29 pm Post subject:

AladdinsGenie · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:39 pm Post subject:

I was terrified to take a still life class because "OMFG all I draw is cartoons! Argh!" BUT, that actually helped because you have a sense of proportion and depth some people don't learn until they take the class. When we were doing self-portraits, my professor said mine looked the most like me in the class without having to draw many lines, which is sorta what cartoons are. So don't feel bad if you think it's going to effect you. You can actually learn a ton that way.

Syera · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:27 pm Post subject:

Well... I've never taken an art class. I have, however, spent hours and hours surfing Elfwood and absorbing the talent of many, many artists. Mua.

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dazzeling diamond · Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:55 pm Post subject:

that's what maks everyone's art so unqiue, remember, art is expression, not perfection!

Calluna · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:08 am Post subject: