Thread: A Little Dilemma

I have a small problem and I would appreciate any advice. In the story I'm creating I decided to have everything based on the colors black, white, and grey. In the story, it's patriotic. It represents balance, unity, evolution, etc. People of authority wear primarily black. Police, fire fighters, military, army, politicians, etc. And the regular folk are allowed to where white and grey. I went as far as genetically modifying their genes so that their hair/eyes are the same color. The problem I'm having is, at first, I wanted to make everyone's hair black but then that would interfere with code I set up? So I came to the conclusion that I guess I should just go all out and make the authoritative figures hair black and the regular people's hair white/grey. And if the regular people enter a position of authority, they would simply dye their hair. The problem is I would really like to make everyone's hair black (I think it would be easier) but I wouldn't know how to explain why regular people are allowed to have black hair and eyes. Does it need to be explained?

From reading your piece I get the impression that there is no narrative reason why all hair should be black, that it's just a personal choice; if so, it will work against the ethos of your tale. Either there is a uniform code of appearance or there isn't, it would be hard to justify all having black hair as is it is not the natural condition of the population, all hair would have to be dyed or genetically modified to create the three states of society, and by limiting hair colour it may cramp your style if, for instance, you want one of your characters to pass for another grade by, say, wearing contacts & dying his hair black in order to pass as one of the top cadre in order to infiltrate/carry out a covert operation.

Originally Posted by Bloggsworth

...and by limiting hair colour it may cramp your style if, for instance, you want one of your characters to pass for another grade by, say, wearing contacts & dying his hair black in order to pass as one of the top cadre in order to infiltrate/carry out a covert operation.

This is true.

Thanks.

After thinking it over for some time, I'm not sure what to call these groups. "The Blacks" and "The Whites" sounds not only boring but racist. Any idea on this one?

Sorry but I can't say my suggestions on the forum More seriously, why not dark and light or some variation there of?

Nights and Days, perhaps?

Charcoals, Clouds, and Silvers?

Also, I wouldn't make "dyeing" the hair the way for a regular person to step into a position of power. Perhaps something more permanent, such as, they have to go through a procedure of some sort that alters their genetic code.

And maybe all hair dye, or dyes and inks of any kind, for that matter, should be illegal. Perhaps a regular could stumble onto a way to create dyes and pigments, and he becomes hunted because of it. *shrug*

Another name possibility:

Solids and Blanks

It seems the choice of black and white as your default colours is what's getting in the way. You could consider a different set of colours? Yellow, blue and green perhaps? Play with a colour wheel.

Set your story with an asian populace; you'll then have a population that all naturally have black/brown colouring that you can play with.

Lol, the best I can think of is the classic Proles and the Party (as in 1984 by George Orwell). Anyway, it doesn't necessarily have to be a reference to the color. The colors are only a symbol of something else anyway, right? Why not name them something after the ideals the colors represent. The blacks could be called the "Great" or the "Strong" while the whites could be called the "Pure" or the "Mild", something like that.

Think on your story. Does your society have any slogans or mottos? In 1984 it was:

War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength

In Brave New World the slogan was:

Every one belongs to every one else.

Slogans are common in distopian books as a method of controling the populace, but there are other methods. Whatever you use, the names you give the groups should tie into the mind control methods somehow. It seems from your description of the story that there is a high emphasis on the separation between the authorities and the populace. If you have a slogan that the government uses to convince the populace to accept this arrangement, than you might use the words of the slogan to name your groups. In a world such as the one you are describing, the name you give the groups is pivotal for controlling the populace.

How does skin colour play into this? Would they need to change the melanin in their skin too?

I like the idea of dyeing the hair, as it goes; I think it could work well as a metaphor for new-money class shame and blue-blooded snobbery. The juxtaposition of an elitist, puritanical structure against the shambolic need to dye one's hair in order to comply with it.

Imagine the first amateurish efforts of a newly promoted authoritarian as he tries to assimilate his noggin for the first time with a box of Just For Men. The ongoing need to hide their true hair colour for fear of being outed as somehow ersatz.

Could be fun to write about, no?

Originally Posted by S1E9A8N5

I have a small problem and I would appreciate any advice. In the story I'm creating I decided to have everything based on the colors black, white, and grey. In the story, it's patriotic. It represents balance, unity, evolution, etc. People of authority wear primarily black. Police, fire fighters, military, army, politicians, etc. And the regular folk are allowed to where white and grey. I went as far as genetically modifying their genes so that their hair/eyes are the same color. The problem I'm having is, at first, I wanted to make everyone's hair black but then that would interfere with code I set up? So I came to the conclusion that I guess I should just go all out and make the authoritative figures hair black and the regular people's hair white/grey. And if the regular people enter a position of authority, they would simply dye their hair. The problem is I would really like to make everyone's hair black (I think it would be easier) but I wouldn't know how to explain why regular people are allowed to have black hair and eyes. Does it need to be explained?

Wouldn't it mean more/read better if it was only peoples uniforms that portrayed the authority/unity?

Originally Posted by KyleColorado

Also, I wouldn't make "dyeing" the hair the way for a regular person to step into a position of power. Perhaps something more permanent, such as, they have to go through a procedure of some sort that alters their genetic code.

That was actually going to be my next question. I was looking up gene therapy and such. Does anyone have an idea if this type of genetic alteration would be possible in the next 40 years? Or does it not matter if it's 100% realistic. I was thinking the people could go through a two month process where it genetically alters your DNA but I haven't found anything on that type of genetic alteration. Just information on treating diseases. I'd like to have my story take place in 2056 but if it's not possible than I want to bump it up to 2106. Why the time jump? Well the FDA is involved in the story and 2056 would be their 150th anniversary so... I want to have it take place on an anniversary. At least that's what I'm shooting for. I was thinking 2084 ala 1984. Not entirely sure yet.

Originally Posted by KyleColorado

And maybe all hair dye, or dyes and inks of any kind, for that matter, should be illegal.

Completely agree. Makes more sense.

Originally Posted by Capulet

It seems the choice of black and white as your default colours is what's getting in the way. You could consider a different set of colours? Yellow, blue and green perhaps? Play with a colour wheel.

Color is outlawed. I chose black and white because there's a yin/yang symbology I'm going for. And from what I've read, black and white are not colors depending on your viewpoint. Which is another reason why I chose them.

Originally Posted by themooresho

Anyway, it doesn't necessarily have to be a reference to the color.

Yea. I'm figuring that out. I have a few ideas. I'll come up with something. Thanks for stating the obvious. lol Sometimes I just need to think and ask questions!

Originally Posted by helium

How does skin colour play into this? Would they need to change the melanin in their skin too?

No. I thought that would be taking it way too far. Not exactly what I'm going for.

Originally Posted by Mystery

Wouldn't it mean more/read better if it was only peoples uniforms that portrayed the authority/unity?

It needs a little tweaking I'll admit. I'm getting there. In the story, GMO's have saved the world so I figured why not take it a step further and genetically modifiy the people? I thought it would make the story more interesting.