anghraine | Tumblr crosspost (29 June 2020)

An anon on Tumblr asked:

Do you mind elaborating on what you mean by "renunciation narrative"? I ask because I think I'm inclined to agree with you about disliking them based on what you've said, but I'm not sure I've really had a term for it before

I replied:

I’d never heard a term for it, either, so I sort of fumbled around for something beyond “that thing that keeps annoying me.”

I think of renunciation narratives as narratives that require a character to give up their personal abilities, powers, or potential for Reasons.

The actual reasons given can vary; a lot of the time, they do it to preserve their humanity. Sometimes this is because using the ability is damaging in some way (for me, this is the least objectionable form). Another common form is when the author structures things so that a character can use their abilities and/or retain their potential or they can stay human, but not both (I find this intensely irritating and forced). But the essential feature is that they must wholly give up some personal ability/power/potential.

I don’t think it’s inherently bad in all cases, to be clear (though I do think it’s difficult to execute well). I just dislike it.

Tumblr crosspost (29 June 2020)

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