Story inspired by The Desert Song?

I'm working on a YA steampunk fantasy novel which riffs (ha ha ha) on The Desert Song, commenting on and subverting the stereotypes in the original. Basically, it takes everything and changes it around. I've already found a few books which go into detail on Arab stereotypes, such as "Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Villifies A People". and "The Western Image of the Muslim Woman: From Termagant to Odalisque'' because I want to avoid any more Unfortunate Implications. Does anyone believe something like this can be done without reinforcing any stereotypes, positive or negative? I plan on doing a lot of referencing and Lampshade Hanging on the tropes of Noble Savages and Always Chaotic Evil natives (As an 18-year-old Chinese Australian female musical geek, I'm sensitive abut this sort of thing.) Here are some examples:

• The Hero (the Red Shadow) is the teenaged chieftain of his Riff tribe, because his father was shot dead by French officers.
• The Ingenue is from an island which is a Fantasy Counterpart Culture of Cuba.
• The villain is more of an Anti-Hero.
• There's going to be a lot of focus on the negative effects of colonialism on people from both sides and on Love Vs.Honour.

And also, any ideas on how to give a twist to the plotline beyond "The hero infiltrates the fort as a cameleer" and he gets his friend to be his decoy?

edited 4th Jul '12 5:11:19 PM by MorwenEdhelwen

Can anyone help me with this? ETA: It should be "The Desert Song."

edited 4th Jul '12 2:12:39 AM by MorwenEdhelwen

This could be potentially rather interesting.

Also, click the Holler button (the one with the yellow sign on it) and tell the mods that you want them to change the title of the thread.

Thanks, JHM! Are you referring to the story idea? One other thing I have is that the number of people in his outlaw band who really trust him is a grand total of one.

edited 5th Jul '12 12:38:24 AM by MorwenEdhelwen

Does anyone have ideas on how to subvert the old stereotypes/tropes?

edited 6th Jul '12 3:07:04 AM by MorwenEdhelwen

Is this something anyone would actually want to read? (Other than me that is.)

edited 6th Jul '12 11:17:59 PM by MorwenEdhelwen

What are everyone's opinions on the question of whether this can be done without reinforcing stereotypes?

edited 6th Jul '12 11:19:18 PM by MorwenEdhelwen

Here is a synopsis of the operetta. Does anyone think this idea could have Unfortunate Implications? Part of the plot concentrates on the heroine's opposition to aspects of the hero's culture (such as women being bound by strict moral codes and codes of honour and seen as "weak," and slavery). Does this sound racist to anyone? She spends a lot of time making reference to the people's "barbaric" treatment of women, while he tears her apart in reference to Western culture)

Note that this is a historical fantasy from the fantasy-Arabs' point of view. Basically, is a story about an Arab boy who meets a Western girl and experiences Cultural Clash when the subject of women's different treatment is brought up racist? Does it conjure up stereotypes of "OMG MIDDLE EASTERN/NORTH AFRICAN MEN ARE SEXIST AND TREAT WOMEN BADLY?" And yes, polygamy is brought up as something "aristocrats tend to do." Because women do tend to be treated differently in Bedouin cultures.

edited 11th Oct '12 4:04:51 PM by MorwenEdhelwen