You know I wondered about the idea of Black Mask etc being geared toward working class men. So, I did a little digging on the Internet. (Not that that's the font of all knowledge.) And found that they figure this is true because of the ads in the magazines--ads about improving yourself, early bodybuilding, basically young man stuff. It's amazing to me that young men of any social strata would read enough of anything to warrant an entire industry, pulp. I guess the options were few--radio and movies. So, this is the 30s and 40s. My Dad's generation. I'm in my 60s. My Dad was a huge SF reader, Astounding, etc. But I wonder what happened to all these working and middle-class readers? And who reads the grittier side of thrillers and detective fiction today? I write mysteries, but they're purposefully geared toward women. They're 80% of the overall market. But stuff like current Noir. Is it men who are reading that? I know that for certain genres, military thrillers for instance, that it's mainly men who are the readers. Anyway, thanks for the article. It provoked a lot of thought. :)
These are important questions. I'm sorry to hear you have to hear your work towards women unless of course you prefer that anyway. I think young men today have YouTube and video games to scratch that entertainment itch. The real variable is what would at least some of these young men choose if books were actually geared towards them? We don't know because the market is bloated with girlboss lit.
That’s actually a good point. The women thing was a business decision. Go where the market is. Also At the end of the day, heroes aren’t male or female (look at the IDF). They’re strong people who overcome obstacles. That appeals to everyone.
Crime is pathological to begin with. Also men are far more violent in real life than women.
Yep. More realistic to portray violent men.
You know I wondered about the idea of Black Mask etc being geared toward working class men. So, I did a little digging on the Internet. (Not that that's the font of all knowledge.) And found that they figure this is true because of the ads in the magazines--ads about improving yourself, early bodybuilding, basically young man stuff. It's amazing to me that young men of any social strata would read enough of anything to warrant an entire industry, pulp. I guess the options were few--radio and movies. So, this is the 30s and 40s. My Dad's generation. I'm in my 60s. My Dad was a huge SF reader, Astounding, etc. But I wonder what happened to all these working and middle-class readers? And who reads the grittier side of thrillers and detective fiction today? I write mysteries, but they're purposefully geared toward women. They're 80% of the overall market. But stuff like current Noir. Is it men who are reading that? I know that for certain genres, military thrillers for instance, that it's mainly men who are the readers. Anyway, thanks for the article. It provoked a lot of thought. :)
These are important questions. I'm sorry to hear you have to hear your work towards women unless of course you prefer that anyway. I think young men today have YouTube and video games to scratch that entertainment itch. The real variable is what would at least some of these young men choose if books were actually geared towards them? We don't know because the market is bloated with girlboss lit.
That’s actually a good point. The women thing was a business decision. Go where the market is. Also At the end of the day, heroes aren’t male or female (look at the IDF). They’re strong people who overcome obstacles. That appeals to everyone.
Yep. Very profitable writing for women readers.
Can you imagine Mickey Spillane writing for female readers? He would probably throw a right hook at you just for suggesting it to his face.
I believe he attempted a novel for a female audience: My Gun Is Quick But Won't Fire Until You're Fully Satisfied First.