Hi all, putting a well know artist or performers down (in a jovial way of course). Conversation/dialog in book goes.... ‘Keep busy King. Idleness breeds thought which breeds depression, a depression of the worst kind!’ 'Worse than the depression one gets after listening to the Osmonds?' ‘Hmm? A close call King, I’ll grant you that.’ Am I OK with this? I have soooo much to learn.... Cheers Ben.
I'm confused - are you asking if this conversation is ok? What specifically are you concerned about? Apart from the repetition of "King", I don't see a problem with it, although it doesn't seem very natural.
I don't know what the characters are like, but generally dissing doesn't go well with formal speech like calling yourself 'one', unless he's an intellectual who normally talks like that. Otherwise it might be better to say "Worse than listening to The Osmonds?" "A depression of the worst kind" also sounds a little awkward. Most people I know would say something like "Really bad depression". But if it's a professor or an intellectual, he might talk like that. Yeah, as Naomasa said, we need more information.
The dialog sounds very stilted, and let's be honest, mentioning the Osmonds dates your work. Unless your story takes place in the 50s or 60s, it really doesn't fit.
It does date your work very much - you'd probably get a blank look from anyone under about 40, certainly from anyone under 30. It might be better to go even further back to a "classic" like Leonard Cohen? (or is that too depressing...?) I can't comment on whether the Osmonds would take legal action, but the authors of Red Dwarf got away with "never tangle with anything that's got more teeth than the entire Osmond family" (c:
Hi all, thanks for the replies. 1:Ginger Coffee. Not looking for critique. Don't write or know enough to do that yet. 2." But if it's a professor or an intellectual, he might talk like that. Well spotted Xoic. The character is an intellectual. 3: 'I'm confused - are you asking if this conversation is ok?' Sorry Naomasa, being a little wet behind the ears I may have worded my post incorrectly. Will learn from this. 4: Spot on Hammer, you hit the nail on the head....(sorry about that) with, 'I can't comment on whether the Osmonds would take legal action, but the authors of Red Dwarf got away with "never tangle with anything that's got more teeth than the entire Osmond family" Basically. Is putting a well know artist and or or performers down (in a jovial way of course) unsafe ground legally? Or is there an acceptable way (without ending up in court) to do it? Thanks all. Ben.
You'll be fine, I imagine. The statement is an opinion, which is defined in UK law as not being defamatory. It's not a statement of fact. I don't know about the law anywhere else, and I'm not a lawyer. And it's so minor, I doubt anyone would take notice.
In the US it would fall under what's called Fair Use (I think that's what it's called), which says that public figures such as celebrities have, well, made themselves public figures and therefore their public image is ok to ridicule, satire, parody etc. As long as you're not calling for action against them. Plus, if making fun of the Osmonds was actionable, half the population would be in jail. Probably more like nine tenths actually.
Yeah, I think this hits the nail on the head. Basically, it's fine to deal with what makes a famous person famous, and give an opinion on that, in a piece of writing, but it's not okay to make up stuff about them. It would be okay to have a character in your story who can't stand Harry Potter books, or okay to disparage JKRowling because she donated £1 million to Better Together, to help prevent Scotland from becoming an independent country in 2014 (yep, she did)—but it wouldn't be okay to claim that JKRowling stole the idea of Harry Potter from you, or that she ate your hamster. (Unless you have undoctored photos.... )
Aaaaaah! My Hamster has gone missing! Nice one Jannert. 'Plus, if making fun of the Osmonds was actionable, half the population would be in jail. Probably more like nine tenths actually.' Like it I do! Thanks again folks. For the help, and, the humour. Much appreciated. Ben.
Ok, wasn't sure where you were coming from. The ironic thing is the Osmonds and Ozzy are complete polar opposites.
Ozzy Osmond. LoL Amazingly, he does seem to have the same stylist as Marie, but there the similarity probably stops...