: Re: How can I make a setting which shows something? I am trying to write novels where the setting plays a large part. I want the setting to naturally and passively show a truth to the reader.

@Holmes449

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I think the word "setting" is too broad for what you are talking about; in both your examples, Star Wars and Hunger Games, the specific component of "setting" that you are referring to is the culture of the characters.

In Star Wars, all the main characters know and believe in the magic of The Force, and the plot would not exist without it: No Vader, no Yoda, no Jedi, no Obi Wan, no Emperor, and Luke is just a not very special kid.

But that is a cultural thing, nothing to do with the space ships, asteroids, planets, technology, alien bars, their money, and so on.

If what you want to do is highlight a "truth" [in quotes because it is your truth, and you will be manipulating characters to behave as you wish in order to demonstrate your truth, which may be far from what people do IRL or what some reader that believes your "truth" is a falsehood would consider realistic or likely] then invent a cultural element that is the opposite of it, or in line with it, and a story that hinges on it (like Star Wars hinges on The Force). Note that Star Wars chose simplistically, a literal magical Power to represent figurative powers (political power, the power of wealth, the power of physical coercion, etc). The same kind of story can be told using Magic as the power to be abused, and "White Magic" and "Black Magic" have been used thusly in stories for thousands of years.

If your story is about gun control, you must have a cultural component where "gun control" plays a central role; either the presence of it or the lack of it. Maybe guns are prohibited by law and nobody has them, or the opposite: Guns are mandated by law and everybody has them, perhaps even first graders.

Then find some conflict: Rebels, corrupt officials, whatever (I'm not going to write your story).

IMO it is improper to call this "setting". Star Wars would be a completely different film with nearly the same exact plot if we were talking about magic wizards in medieval Europe. All that need remain the same is The Force and the cultural composition of it (a few good guys, a few bad guys, an unwitting public). The robots and aliens could have been just some humans, R2D2 just a dwarf with a few magical talents, the City in the Clouds just a City on a Mountain, and Luke drops away off the mountain, getting a magical new hand later.

Also note that in Star Wars, the vast majority of the culture is very little different than the modern times. Hans Solo and Leia have a pretty normal American love story; a simple transplant from a romantic comedy about a cowboy and a rebellious young girl that ends in a kiss. Ships are not run differently, a captain in charge giving orders to subordinates and passengers alike [it is not the ONLY way to run a ship]. Neither the rebel or emperor army are run much differently. The ruling councils, how the bar is run, how planets are run is all quite familiar to the audience. Even Yoda's teaching is quite traditional.

Whatever the central "truth" is you want to represent, start with a culture the audience will find familiar (or at least easily understandable), and ADD a new cultural element that you can use to show what happens with your "truth". Adjust the rest of the culture, as little as possible to accommodate this new element.

As for the REST of the setting, many time periods, levels of technological development and civilization are possible. Pick whatever allows you the most leeway to tell your story and raises the stakes the most. If your hero and/or protagonist need to kill a lot of people and never think about them again, you might need a more "wild west" (little law enforcement) setting, like Star Wars. If your hero is going to be trapped by a government with no way out but to fight, think Hunger Games. Think about whether the hero has public support or is a public enemy, whether they have much leeway to act or little, whether they have many resources (as the rebels do in Star Wars) or nearly none.

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