photo creditWhy doesn't any YA character have glasses? Glasses are attractive, nerdy and cute. I have glasses ^_^ I often push them up in class because they fall down when I bend my head to write.
I'm a side-pusher. I push the corners of my glass lenses to push 'em up, whereas the more proper way is to push them in the middle (like the guy above, who is very cute)
So anyways. No glasses is kind of mean, an insult to us "four-eyes" who wear 'em everyday. There are few books in the YA world that have MC's who have glasses. And braces? Where art thou braces? I don't wear braces, but a load of my teenage friends do, and it seems reasonable that a teenage MC have braces too, or at least mention them in a book.
My MC has glasses. She's not the most attractive (though I think she is!!) but glasses make her more....real. She has no braces. I believe in the teeth nature gives you. The way your teeth form is unique to you, and helps you. Bending them and pushing your teeth in obvious physical pain will, yeah make it look better and all, but where are your canines?
A friend of mine at school had no canines. They looked like every other tooth, small and neat and straight.
"Where are your canines? How do you eat meat?"
"I eat meat"
"No..canines...?"
"I had braces for a long time"
ANYWAYS! Going off subject....characters without glasses or braces??
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13 Comments,
Harry Potter!
Actually, one thing that bothers me more is the fact that no YA characters have acne. Acne has plagued me all throughout my teenage years and into my 20s. How come no one ever has that problem?
I have no problem with people getting braces. Sometimes (if not most of the time) it's not just the cosmetic aspect of a person's teeth, but also their health. Like, they might not be able to eat right, or stuff like that. :) I'm getting braces next month. :)
~Autumn
My masters is in physical anthropology. Specifically, I did dental anthropology. So my initial reaction to braces is most like Kirthi's -- most people don't need them, they are not as effective as promised, and than can be counter-productive, as well.
That said, Autumn is right. Sometimes, people do not them in order to eat properly, to protect their mouths, or (and this is legitimate) because they're just so messed up a person will never feel comfortable letting them be seen.
oh, oh! Mine does--in my incomplete WIP1 (first chapter's up on the Writing Show site if you're interested)... The male protagonist has these glasses of his g'fathers he wears, but he doesn't really need them. He's an aspiring film student, and he wants to look like his "idol."
I was thinking Martin Scorsese. My husband thought Woody Allen... so I left the idol undefined~
glasses are great props--Yay! :D <3
Someone beat me to Harry Potter. I think glasses can be cute. Maybe more characters should have them. It doesn't bother me though and I wear glasses (and/or contacts).
By the way, I gave you an award on my blog.
...usually, YA characters have some bigger problem than acne or braces. Like werewolves.
Braces suck. Take it from me. :)
I like the braces idea. I give my teens some acne usually. I don't do glasses cuz i figured it was over done with Harry Potter. Such a geat idea JK had in giving him glasses.
I agree with the glasses thing, which is a really good point- some characters might even look better with glasses!-, but with the braces thing, I think they may add to the character in some cases, but normally with braces comes the stereotypical nerdy clumsy thing- you know? I've seen YA books with characters that have braces, but the MC's are nerdy, clumsy, and likeable to the reader, but not to anyone else in the book (or so it seems...)
Harry Potter has glasses! But you're right, there should be more. And I say that as a fellow four eyes.
I had braces and... I hardly have any canines. It's weird but I can still tear meat just as well as anyone.
Thanks for stopping by my blog :D
I think the reason why there are less glasses in literature now is because more and more people are switching to contacts nowadays, because they're more convenient. And authors usually want readers to relate to their characters, so that's why, I guess.
I completely agree with you on braces though. I've had braces twice, for a total of 3 years, and most of my friends have had braces at least once. And then there are the expanders and retainers and rubber bands... it seems like authors want their characters to be too perfect.
ALL MATTERS ON THE CHARACTER!
like. . . for a guy who is into books and stuff
but glasses - my opinion- only go with people that actually have a nice face!
like that guy is hot in ur pic
thats why his glasses look cute
and because his glasses arent the READING ones
he just wore them cause he was. . . . bored
yup
-Deniz
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