New story
I wrote a new story the other day, completely unrelated to my serial project. It's just a bit of flash, something I wrote almost entirely on notecards as I was walking around. There was a discussion on a writers' forum about dramatic monologues, so I decided to give one a try (not the first one I've done, now that I think of it, since I did one that's similar in some ways about a year and a half ago--but that one was more whimsical and light than this one).
When I think of dramatic monologues, I think of Browning's "My Last Duchess," so that was my jumping off point. I ended up with a genocidal psychopath who appreciates the art of all the peoples he's destroyed. But then when I looked back at it...I had this vague sense that I'd read something similar before. Or maybe just read a review for a similar story. I'm not worried if it's just vaguely similar to something else, but with how short it is, I'd be a bit worried if the central conceit of the character revealing his past atrocities while showing off an art collection is the same as something else.
Ring any bells?
I wrote a new story the other day, completely unrelated to my serial project. It's just a bit of flash, something I wrote almost entirely on notecards as I was walking around. There was a discussion on a writers' forum about dramatic monologues, so I decided to give one a try (not the first one I've done, now that I think of it, since I did one that's similar in some ways about a year and a half ago--but that one was more whimsical and light than this one).
When I think of dramatic monologues, I think of Browning's "My Last Duchess," so that was my jumping off point. I ended up with a genocidal psychopath who appreciates the art of all the peoples he's destroyed. But then when I looked back at it...I had this vague sense that I'd read something similar before. Or maybe just read a review for a similar story. I'm not worried if it's just vaguely similar to something else, but with how short it is, I'd be a bit worried if the central conceit of the character revealing his past atrocities while showing off an art collection is the same as something else.
Ring any bells?
Comments
I feel like such a nerd now. Excuse me while I go do something cool.
Reminds me a bit of the game in Oryx & Crake, where all the great artistic achievements of the world are weighed up against the genocides and wars, to see if humanity is really worth it or not.
Also, I haven't read it, and I don't know what it's about, but didn't Charles Stross come out with a book called "The Atrocity Archives?" Though yours would be a bit more like "The Atrocity Art Museum." Could be shaped as a fun parody/pastiche/response...?