Message Fiction vs Propaganda

There has been a lot of discussion over the past year, especially in regard to the Hugo Awards, about the prominence of "message fiction" in SFF. Some puppy supporters have drawn a line between what they regard as message fiction and what, for want of a better word, we'll call 'plot driven' fiction, which they state that they prefer.

Frankly, I think all fiction contains messages. However, some works focus more on plot than others. And so it might be possible to make sense of such a distinction.

Recently, Stina Leicht took a stab at identifying the difference over on Chuck Wendig's blog. I don't agree with a lot of the material framing her attempt to answer the question, but she has some good points to make and a nice way of explaining them.

First, what is message fiction?

As I understand it, message fiction is fiction that contains a theme. If you’ve taken an English literature class, you’re familiar with the concept. All writers of fiction use these concepts whether they’re noticed by readers or not. Sometimes, they’re even used unconsciously by the writer.

Second, does ‘Message Fiction’ have a place in Science Fiction and Fantasy?

YES. Because Science Fiction is often defined as the fiction of ideas, and while I tend to lean more toward Science Fiction and Fantasy being the fiction of ideas and characters, I agree. I’d go so far as to say that without thoughtful, attention-grabbing concepts (and characters,) you’re left with a simple chronicle of events. That isn’t literature. It’s a diary entry. In that sense, all good fiction is message fiction. And I think we can all agree as SFF fans that our genre contains good, even great, fiction.

Themes have been used in SFF since its inception. Let’s start with Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein which is widely regarded as one of the first, if not, the first SFF novel. One of its main themes is the question of whether or not scientific knowledge can be/should be used ethically. This is a classic in our genre. It’s everywhere. It’s even present in Jurassic Park which I can’t imagine anyone labeling as anything but entertainment. Star Trek has successfully used social commentary as has Sir Terry Pratchett with his extremely popular Discworld series.

Third, can an author push a message too far? The answer is yes, and Leicht refers to fiction like this as propaganda:

What’s the difference between fiction containing a theme and propaganda? That’s easy.

It’s the distinction between a question and a statement.

Propaganda tells you how to think. Literary themes invite you, the reader, to come up with your own answers. Propaganda leaves no doubt whatsoever. It demands that you agree. It’s very obvious. No other interpretation is permitted. It’s a closed, authoritarian approach. Literary themes, on the other hand, invite the reader to explore the matter for themselves. They’re interactive. A theme can be something you disagree with. In fact, a theme can be extremely effective if it drives home uncomfortable concepts. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess is a fine example. It illustrates the struggle between chaos and order, and in doing so, poses questions about the balance between individual freedom versus the establishment. How much of each is too much? It’s a difficult, uneasy read for all sorts of reasons. None of the characters are remotely admirable from what I remember. Nothing demonstrated in the novel is anything I agree with, either. Still, I felt it was a worthwhile read and an important contribution to the SFF genre because it exposed me to new ideas.

I don't disagree with anything Leicht says and think she has a nice way of putting things.

The thing is, I expect the puppies don't have any problem with it either. Their concern---as I understand it---is that the theme often dominates the plot in a lot of recent award winning SFF, to the extent that the plot is uninteresting or secondary to the author's aim of sending a message.

Ideally, IMNSHO, a book both entertains and informs. As Leicht puts it:

My favorite kinds of fiction are fun fiction that teaches me something. I find it more mentally engaging. I suspect I’m not alone in this.

I concur.