tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post2612125077735025252..comments2024-03-29T03:45:01.236-07:00Comments on TalkToYoUniverse: Handling Caste SystemsJuliette Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-5837257787521260192010-06-20T11:36:07.357-07:002010-06-20T11:36:07.357-07:00Fascinating.
Interested in more on how caste (fu...Fascinating. <br /><br />Interested in more on how caste (functional?) systems differ from stratified class or racial breakdowns. Caste seems like it may be more explicit across the board, whereas there is a large disagreement depending on your self-identified class or racial group on how much you think those divisions affect an individual's place in society. Also thinking of the points of disagreement between economic and socioeconomic class, having spent a fair amount of time in that no-mans land myself first as an actor dependent on patronage and now as a teacher in a very expensive prep school.Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17996587091003594735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-26399214253575706022010-06-19T08:12:51.629-07:002010-06-19T08:12:51.629-07:00idiotgrrl,
Thanks for your comment! And thanks f...idiotgrrl,<br /><br />Thanks for your comment! And thanks for reminding me about This Alien Shore, which I read and loved. It hadn't occurred to me because I was thinking about ranked caste systems at the time I wrote this. However, inasmuch as the Guerans have fixed and named personality categories which are marked by the face paint and by expectations for behavior, I agree that they would fall under the caste umbrella. Another question that this brings up, though, is whether the basis for caste assignment is learned culture or some genetic characteristic. Both options are possible, but the real world castes, and the Varin castes, are based on learned culture, whereas the Gueran divisions have an undeniable genetic component.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-88857980666857356632010-06-19T07:06:20.264-07:002010-06-19T07:06:20.264-07:00There is a science fiction novel which described a...There is a science fiction novel which described a horizontal, rather than vertical, caste system, in C.S. Friedman's "This Alien Shore." <br /><br />The castes are identified by face paint, though some have permanent tattoos, and the division is essentially by personality type (maps quite nicely onto the Enneagram, in fact), which is usually an indicator of the person's profession. <br /><br />For example, the "iru" (E5) are not expected to look you in the eye, but are expected to be honest and straightforward - and you don't lie to them. The hero of the novel, the culture's leading computer security expert, is such a man, and in his clashes with the "simba" and "nantana" politicians usually comes out on top, simply because their political games are meaningless trivia to him. <br /><br />Worth checking out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-8911495682222407092010-06-18T16:08:46.745-07:002010-06-18T16:08:46.745-07:00Thanks, E. Arroyo.
Jaleh, I'm glad you enjoye...Thanks, E. Arroyo.<br /><br />Jaleh, I'm glad you enjoyed it. It would be all too easy for me to launch into an extensive explanation of Varin castes, but I think this makes the topic more accessible for people who haven't read the story (yet!). Thanks for the comment!Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-79690509166222678862010-06-18T11:51:01.092-07:002010-06-18T11:51:01.092-07:00Very cool! I was hoping you were going to mention ...Very cool! I was hoping you were going to mention the Imbati after getting to read your story, but the rest of the information was also fascinating.Jaleh Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04942272578488986874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-45132984453344312182010-06-18T06:36:46.624-07:002010-06-18T06:36:46.624-07:00Thanks for breaking this down. I write Fantasy and...Thanks for breaking this down. I write Fantasy and this puts things in perspective. Great research material. Thanks again!E. Arroyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06634213563563094173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-65982062592660697292010-06-17T17:46:37.459-07:002010-06-17T17:46:37.459-07:00You're entirely welcome. I had hoped other au...You're entirely welcome. I had hoped other authors would find it helpful!Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-10082215728281682822010-06-17T16:35:12.347-07:002010-06-17T16:35:12.347-07:00Thank you. This is exactly pointed at one of the ...Thank you. This is exactly pointed at one of the research projects I am doing for my second novel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-78159975620756722172010-06-17T07:02:12.486-07:002010-06-17T07:02:12.486-07:00Keyan,
Thanks for that correction! I don't kn...Keyan,<br />Thanks for that correction! I don't know why I didn't think to ask you initially for your input on that section; I'll go up and edit it.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-14645252241263876302010-06-17T05:06:17.351-07:002010-06-17T05:06:17.351-07:00Having said which, I think your fictional treatmen...Having said which, I think your fictional treatments are entirely believable, and your guidelines very valuable. - KeyanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-78613419878338819642010-06-17T05:05:24.397-07:002010-06-17T05:05:24.397-07:00One correction about the Hindu caste system - the ...One correction about the Hindu caste system - the Brahmins were the custodian of all religious knowledge, and the ones who were involved in all religious rituals. Buddhism didn't come into it for the most part. <br /><br />The Indian caste system essentially assumed predestination at birth. I'm not sure if the British had that much of an impact. They changed a lot of things politically; but socially, not so much.<br /><br />And intercaste marriage was prohibited. Today, caste in India isn't much about profession, but in rural areas, there are complex rules of endogamy that are still followed.<br /><br />- KeyanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-92116457122774623082010-06-16T21:59:10.703-07:002010-06-16T21:59:10.703-07:00Thanks, Megs. Don't worry too much about &quo...Thanks, Megs. Don't worry too much about "doing it all" - a lot of what we know comes through subconsciously in what we write, anyway. I'm really glad you find my articles helpful.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-61970646599540597772010-06-16T20:29:26.138-07:002010-06-16T20:29:26.138-07:00I've never read anyone who broke this down so ...I've never read anyone who broke this down so clearly and detailed, and I'm breaking out my mental notes on my one caste-system society to see how well it stands up to this. It follows one cliché, I suppose, of SF, where children are allowed to mature before being assigned a caste (similar to The Giver), but after that...<br /><br />It gets complex. This gives me the material to reexamine and deepen everything so it shows up at that understory level, instead of as dressing. (I don't know how I'll ever get through all the articles you post--I use them all!)Megs - Scattered Bitsnoreply@blogger.com