Subject: It can be anything
Author:
Posted on: 2017-07-16 12:49:00 UTC
I find that a lot of authors who like to use violence use it much too often. Which in turn, makes the entire thing look very artificial. Think of how the characters think, or how a gamer might percieve enemies in a game. One would not notice a mook or redshirt that got killed by the protagonist. In such cases, a simple phrase describing the death should suffice because no one, not even the one performing the killing, cares about it. On the other hand, if this was a final battle of ultimate destiny against a nemesis, or a boss fight, or anything of emotional significance, then the character begins to notice details.
Adding details of the act will add emotional significance to the killing, or hurting, of a character. Basically, it is the difference between "seeing" and "feeling" the violence. So, if the violence is not significant to the characters and plot i.e. hurting a mook, then intricate details should be used less. If it is significant, then more details could, and should, be added. If it is very emotionally significant, then you may do tiny details of you so choose. Although this is my own personal views.
And yes, gore can be used to point out weaknesses of immortality. In fact, this was done in baccano.