27

Dec

on “diversity for diversity’s sake”

inkstrangle:

So let’s talk about race in Homestuck.

Andrew Hussie has said in the past that he believes the Homestuck kids can be read as any race, and that he intended to write them that way. He’s said this, and I believe him! I don’t think Hussie of all people would lie about his ~artistic intentions~, least of all as vehemently as he did during the initial tumblr furor over the “aracial” comments.

So Hussie envisioned the kids as aracial, or at least he didn’t conceive of them as or strongly associate them with any particular race. And yet, scattered throughout Homestuck are (or were) numerous indications to the contrary: descriptions of the kids as “pink-skinned,” a now-altered pesterlog where John refers to Bro as “a nerdy white guy who is a rapper,” the curious problem of heirs to a baking empire. You add all these little instances up, and they seem to point to one conclusion—that Hussie did not, in fact, imagine the kids as some nebulous “any race.” He had an image of them, a particular appearance, a particular race, and in all likelihood that race was white.

Now, I just said I didn’t think he was lying! And I don’t, in fact, think he was lying—I think all of what I have just written above is true. In other words,

  1. When Andrew Hussie sits back and thinks about the entire comic, in aggregate, and his vision for it, he can honestly say, “Yeah, I didn’t intend the kids to be any particular race. They can look however you want.”
  2. That regardless, whenever he had to call those kids’ faces to mind, to come up with a funny reference or an alien observation, the face he called up was always, always, white.

Why is that?

I’ll tell you a story: I wrote a lot, as a kid and a teenager. I liked to make up stories, and I liked to imagine myself in those stories; most of my old work stars girls my age or a little older—heavily aspirational stuff. I wrote about headstrong girls who went on adventures; and witty, irreverent girls who did wild things; and serious girls who solved the world’s problems. And—very occasionally, those girls were literally me, but if they weren’t? They were invariably white. I imagined them as such. I described them as such.

In other words, I wrote about girls, because I was a girl; and I wrote about white people, even though I am not, myself, white.

There are a lot of PoC who will tell you this same story.

Why is that?

I have seen a lot of criticism of self-conscious diversity, “insincere” diversity, “diversity for diversity’s sake,” both in this fandom and elsewhere. It’s great if you just happen to come up with black or Asian or Native characters, these people believe, but if you have to think about it? If you deliberately choose to write or rewrite your stories to be diverse, or draw a character lineup with an eye toward not making it too white? Well, that’s just weird. That’s wrong, in fact.You’re trying too hard—you should just tell your stories, draw the characters, as you naturally envision them. Why would you do anything else?

The problem with this line of thinking is that what we “naturally envision” is often not natural at all: it is a reflection of a world which has been fed to us by an advertising industry that is frequently racist, by popular media which regularly erases or sidelines entire classes of people. The books and magazines we read, the TV shows and movies we watch, overwhelmingly tell the stories of white people. And so, when we go to tell our own stories, with our own characters, we invariably imagine them as white. Even, sometimes, when we don’t mean it.

We have locked ourselves into a poisonous cycle. White in, white out.

And that cycle will continue to perpetuate until we stop putting only white in! People like me will only begin to see ourselves in the stories we love when people start including us in those stories. People, individual people, a lot of individual people, will have to change. The things they write will have to change.

And yes, often that change is a deliberate choice—not to suddenly start portraying characters “the way you saw them all along,” but to rethink the way you saw them in the first place. To come back to your main character and consider, well, what if she were black?; to look at your old drawings and wonder whether they all really have to be white. To begin defining a new “natural” for yourself, one which more accurately reflects the world that is actually around you.

Why is that a bad thing?

What is the problem with “diversity for diversity’s sake”? Isn’t diversity an inherent good?

To close out: I don’t care if you don’t want to “be the change” in this specific manner, at this specific time. I really, truly do not give a fuck. It doesn’t affect my opinion of you. But when you turn around and sneer at people who are trying, who are undertaking the long and often difficult process of changing the way they were programmed to think, who are doing their level best to reflect the diversity of the world in the things they create, large and small—well.

Yeah, I am going to judge you for that. I think that’s gross as fuck.

11 years ago Short URL Comments

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26

Dec

spacetwinks:

any motherfucker says they can’t relate to a character of a different gender, race, or sexuality than themselves, but then go off and read about elves and aliens and dragons and shit, y’all can fuck right off

11 years ago Short URL Comments

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23

Dec

wretchedoftheearth:

I spent most of my life being silent on shit that bothers me, and learning that when I open my mouth I will lose friends, I will be cast out of social circles, I will annoy coworkers. I will be punished for believing that my humanity and the humanity of others is worthy of respect and more meaningful than jokes or snide comments.

That shit isn’t fun.

It isn’t fun to share interests and truly enjoy the company of people and later find out that they participate in dehumanizing and oppressive social structures.

It isn’t fun to want to have friends but know that they believe in really terrible stereotypes that perpetuate discrimination, violent crime, and more.

It isn’t fun to have to put up with microaggressions, and be considered “irrational” when you call them out.

It isn’t fun to tell people that something isn’t okay, only for them to feel put upon for having to think about their problematic shit.

It isn’t fun to be called “hypersensitive” when the reality is that the people around you are simply insensitive.

No fun at all.

Calling people on their shit is necessary but painful and isolating and times, so fuck anyone who thinks it’s something people derive pleasure from doing.

11 years ago Short URL Comments

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16

Jul

Why Skin Color of Fictional Characters are Important

isaia:

black-ink-on-pink:

Okay. I’m going on another rant here and forgive me, but I saw something that just irks me so, and I’m feeling the need to grab people and shake them and beg them to just understand please. 

So I’m reading various things on tumblr, related to Legend of Korra, the portrayal and representation of dark-skinned characters in fiction, and the question that comes around is: Why is this even important? 

Let me answer that for you.

—-

Okay, so I have a boyfriend. He’s black, and like me, he’s into cartoons, anime, tv shows, etc.   On his facebook, he keeps an gallery of images of dark-skinned characters. Doesn’t matter if they’re Egyptian, South American, Indian, etc. Just dark-skinned characters in general. A friend once asked him why this gallery exists in the first place, and bf answered how they were all positive portrayals of black/dark characters in anime/video games/cartoons. 

That someone, who was Caucasian, was like, oh, and simply though it was a small quirk, little hobby, something my bf does when he’s bored. 

For bf and me, who are both persons of color, that gallery means much more than a quirky hobby. I can’t explain it well, but basically, it’s a huge deal for us, particularly him. It’s a collection of the few black/dark characters in fiction, it’s representation, it’s him seeing people who look like him be scientists and geniuses, do martial arts, kick ass, look beautiful, be human; it’s people who are dark-skinned be valued and be deep, developed characters and have their own stories and desires and goals; and it’s so damn rare in fiction that he has a gallery of about only 50 characters and that’s it. Compared to, say, the hundreds of thousands of light-skinned characters. 

My bf, he’s a writer. He wants to one day make books and tv shows and movies where the main character will be anything other than a straight white male character. He’s making his life goal to do so. 

Because growing up and even now, still, he was loved seeing characters that are black like him. Loved characters that looked like him getting to be heroes, go on adventures, save the day, be cheered on and loved – showing him that little kids like him, black kids, kids of color, can do anything they want and they are just as good as the white kids who are already heroes and adventures and princes and princesses and whatever the hell there is to be. In a society where he eventually grows up to tell me, one day, when we were out for a drive, how to respond if I ever get pulled over by a cop, to be respectful and calm and make no sudden movements – he doesn’t know if it’s different for Asians but still, be safe – and he has to do all this, be extremely careful simply because he’s black…well, it’s something when black/dark characters are portrayed as anything other than dangerous or expandable or a bunch of horrid shit. 

And then there’s me, who’s Chinese and tans easily and, along with my dad, is the darkest in the family. And let me tell you how screw-up colorism, light-skin-is-better-than-dark-skin mentality is, because there’s my mom (pale) who looks down on my dad for having olive skin and would hush hush tell me when I was younger how ‘dark’ my dad was and how ‘dark’ his family was, it was such an unfortunate thing, let’s hope that I don’t turn out like them, and made it as if their being ‘dark’ (at most an olive skin tone, geez) had something to do with all their flaws and whatnot. And then she goes through the trouble of wearing gloves when driving just so her arms wouldn’t get tanned and take out an umbrella when going outside on a sunny day. And I grow up in this setting, being told how pretty I would be if only I was pale like her.

I hate it. I hate all that and love it whenever I see somehow who is olived-skinned or dark-skinned and they were beautiful – considered beautiful, are beautiful-, and I would know that I am pretty too. And I hope no kid would ever grow up in a screwed-up environment like that and they can look everywhere and see that their dark skin is beautiful, desirable as well. 

So, Korra. Dark-skinned Korra, gorgeous and headstrong and desirable and powerful and Avatar, protector of the whole world – it’s one of the first time a dark-skinned character has been portrayed as so, main character of such a beloved mainstream TV-series. (My bf loves Legend of Korra and its predecessor series before it. I do too.) And if she is in fact getting lighter, even unintentionally. Well. That would be a devastating blow. 

And that’s why skin color in fiction is important. Because of formative influences, of subtle stuff in psychology that worms its way into the mind of little kids, telling them this is how the world worked, this is how your life will eventually be, this is the way you should think. Of the simple fact of having positive role models for all types of children. 

Please try to understand. And at the very least, please don’t just brush off and scoff these concerns. 

this won’t stop being important to me, guys. If it’s uncomfortable for you, please try to learn and understand why.

12 years ago Short URL

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30

Jun

This is how you handle it

goodbyecruelestyouth:

Living in this society, yes, there will be books, music, movies, etc. that have problematic themes in them.  Also, there will be actors, singers, performers, etc. that have done and said problematic and hurtful things to marginalized groups.  Some can apologize and change.  But a lot will not (because their aim is only to market themselves to the majority, and they don’t really give a shit about you if you’re marginalized).

Then for some of us, we probably won’t notice the problematic material until later in our lives when we’re more self-aware, then we learn that a lot of crap we like was actually bad for us.

It’s disappointing to find out that a media that you liked or a celebrity that you liked has actually said and/or done hurtful, bigoted things.  It feels like betrayal if you’re a part of that group yourself.  And if you’re not, you just feel dirty continuing to like the problematic media or person.

Lots and lots of feelings surrounding it, I know.  But here are some tips on how to deal:

  • Just calm the fuck down jfc
  • Just listen to what people are saying about the person, and don’t leap out to defend them and interrupt people.  If you do, then you really have to pull back and evaluate how you can be so fucking petty and childish.  Also, expect people to tell you to STFU and call you out for derailing.
  • If you don’t know the context, be brave enough to look it up yourself instead of interrupting conversations and going, “I am a HUGE fan and have been for many years!  I DEMAND PROOF!  STOP YOUR GROWN-UP DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW AND SPOON FEED ME!”
  • If the celebrity/book/movie/etc. hurts a marginalized group you’re a part of, and you want the marginalized group calling the problematic shit out to stop and validate you and your feelings so that you will feel less like a privileged asshole, then guess what?  YOU’RE A PRIVILEGED ASSHOLE!  One of the worst types, actually — a gross, emotionally manipulative one.  You SHOULD feel like one, feel bad about it, and then stop being one if it makes you feel so bad.  Seriously, don’t talk about how mad it makes you and whine about how much you like a certain movie or so-and-so celebrity.  Also, if you are trying to be more aware of your privilege, yet you act like this, you’re failing extremely hard no matter how bad you feel about Dan Savage being an abusive shithead, Lady Gaga being transphobic and racist, Gwen Stephani being a typical racist white lady, etc.
  • If the celebrity/book/movie/etc. hurts a group you are a part of, but you still like the celebrity/book/movie/etc., that’s great!  Now, please just let people talk and share their opinions and don’t try to shut down others or think your voice is more important than anybody else’s.  And if the problematic shit is indeed there, without a doubt, while you can have your own feelings about it, you don’t have a right to tell other people how they should feel.  And if you’re just in denial about it all, then unfortunately, your own internalized stuff is yours for you to deal with.  Go deal with it and let people talk, or better yet, just listen to what people say and think about the media you consume.  You don’t have to make judgments on anything immediately — just think for yourself.
  • It’s not the end of the world, you’re not “evil” for liking the person/media in the first place, up is still up, down is still down, etc.  Seriously, it’s ridic how defensive people can get about these things.  I can understand why — some books, movies, and celebrities have changed my life, too.  There’s no undoing that. But there’s also no undoing the fact that we live in an oppressive society where bigotry is still very much alive and perpetuated through the media and the news.  This is how stereotypes are kept alive, this is why characters are often whitewashed, this is how rape culture hasn’t died yet.  It’s horrible.  You might feel horrible that such a horrible piece of our culture has helped you at one point.  But maybe you should learn not to worship people or put them on pedestals and realize that people, yes, even people you like (!), can do bad things, say bad things, write bad things, direct bad things, etc. that really, really hurt people.  That’s on them.  But it should be on you to see the problematic behavior, deconstruct it, and see it for what it is instead of losing your shit over it.  You can take parts of the good yet acknowledge and condemn the bad.  You can still like an idea behind a movie yet hate a bigoted actor who’s in it.  You can still like music from a certain performer yet realize they’re -ist assholes.  That’s totally possible to do.  Not everything is all-or-nothing or “black-and-white.”  Everybody has the ability to be perceptive, so ffs, work on your own perception.  But if you shut down marginalized people calling shit out, then you ARE a bad person.
  • And really, if finding out that something you like is -ist, oppressive, or bigoted completely destroys your foundation, then the person who called it out to begin with should pat themselves on the back for a job well done.  And you should try to have a stronger foundation for your principals and morality instead of building it around a celebrity.  For example, if Lady Gaga is the sole reason why you’re supportive of the LGBTQ community (and yes, lol I’ve heard this), then you find out she’s problematic, and that just changes EVERYTHING for you, then actually, you don’t give a shit at all.  If that hurts your feelings and you want to scream at me, do two things.  Go back and read the first point then the rest of this post, then go look up Lady Gaga and her transphobia and racism.  Also realize LGBTQ should (doesn’t, but should) include trans* people and PoC.

12 years ago Short URL

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28

Jun

partycroc:

when minorities express anger at cis/heterosexual/white/male folks it doesnt mean that being a part of any of those groups is inherently bad and theyre not talking about you specifically

theyre talking about anger at the institution thats actively oppressing them

its not a good idea to try to police how they express their anger and remind them that “not all _____ are like that”

12 years ago Short URL

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25

Jun

it is never just a show

Link: it is never just a show

queerlitsuperhero:

it is never just a show

it is never just a book

it is never just a movie

it is never just a comic

The way we treat characters in media reflects the ideas we have about real people, and then our media goes on to enforce how we treat those real people.

I am all for enjoying the media I consume (and contrary to how it must look, I do enjoy a lot of media) but I am critical of everything I enjoy. No media exists in a vacuum. No media does not shadow the social system that constructed it.

12 years ago Short URL

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21

Jun

the four types of comments you get when drawing non-white homestucks

mulattafury:

1. The “You’re Wrong and Here’s Why”

rattled by the portrayal of a beloved character as a PoC, the commenter feels compelled to grasp at straws (that may or may not actually exist) in the canon to argue that the artist is wrong for what they’re doing and that they’re only allowed to draw the characters one way. This applies to any headcanon regarding any aspect of a character’s appearance, but shows up a disproportionate amount when discussing issues of race. Especially where Striders are concerned.

2. The “I Demand An Explanation”

the commenter simply asks why the artist chose to portray a character as a PoC. bonus points for swear words and sad/angry emoticons. because choosing to draw a non-white person apparently warrants a reason, explanation, or justification, this commenter feels cheated when they don’t get one, leading to at least one “why the hell is john black!?” or “why does tavros look like that :(” on every pocstuck drawing in the history of forever

3. The “Grudging Approval”

the (presumably white) commenter feels the need to let you know that they approve of your choice to represent a character as a PoC. This invariably includes some kind of left-handed compliment, such as “I don’t usually like black homestucks but this one is good” or “wow this character is still really hot” or “I find this strangely appealing,” as though PoC characters aren’t usually attractive, appealing, or acceptable and the art in question is some type of surprising exception. It’s alternate form, “I don’t see the characters this way but I guess it’s okay if you do,” is just as prevalent and just as bullshit

4. The “This Is A Joke, Right?”

the commenter thinks that the artist’s portrayal isn’t intended to be serious, and gratuitously applies racist or racially-charged “humor” in their discussion of the art in question.

5. Bonus: The Unsolicited Critique

this devilish little detail tends to show up alongside one of the previously mentioned types of commentary. the commenter refuses to acknowledge that their negative reaction to a piece is entirely because of racism, and insists on finding some technical fault in the artwork that will absolve them of guilt/blame for their irrational hatred. this usually comes in the form of an unsolicited, patronizing critique of the artwork or artist, often something nonspecific and vague (“the legs are off” or “I don’t know if perspective”) that may or may not even apply to the artwork being discussed.

This is an incredibly powerful secret weapon, rendering the artist immobile, as negative reaction to critique (or hate framed as critique) is one of the most surefire way to open up the troll floodgates just about anywhere art is posted.

12 years ago Short URL

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20

Jun

homoerotics:

My vagina is not offensive: my journey to loving my genitals.

At 4-years old, I’m told to call it a “monkey”as the word “vagina” is a bit too vulgar for my otherwise liberal mother.
At 8-years old, my older sister’s favourite insult is “close your legs, you’re attracting flies.”

At 11, I realize that my vulva had changed, and I convince myself that I somehow damaged myself through masturbation.
At 12, I learn that virginity = purity, and the best way to be “good” is to not act at all. I start realizing that society thinks the state of my vagina has some bearing on who I am as a human being.
At 13, I hear the boys in my class talking about “beef curtains”, cementing my belief that my vulva will turn off boys forever.
At 14, I become interested in seeing what other women look like “down there” and find my way into the world of internet porn. I realize I do not look the same as porn-stars, and I become ashamed.
At 15, I learn about labiaplasty and seriously consider the logistics of saving up for it.
At 16, I have my first internal exam. I sit with my feet in stirrups convinced the doctor will tell me there’s something wrong with my genitals. When she doesn’t mention anything, I think she’s just being polite.
At 17, my boyfriend “jokingly” tells me my vulva is hideous.
At 19, I tell my new boyfriend about I how I know his disinterest in performing oral sex on me comes from him being disgusted at my genitals (rather than my own lack of interest), I cry, a lot; he tells me I’m being ridiculous and that there’s nothing wrong with me.
Later that year, I listen to my roommate insult a woman he doesn’t like by saying she has a “fat hairy pussy.”
At 20, I confess to a soon-to-be sexual partner that I’ve been putting off sex because I’m terrified he’ll hate my vulva.
At 21, I sit completely naked in a room full of other young women and confess that that years of hurtful comments from loved ones, friends, strangers, and the media have made me have serious amounts of shame about my vulva. I spread my legs and show them what I’ve got. Afterwards, one of the other women approaches me, looks me straight in the eye, and says “you have a beautiful vagina.” I try not to cry. I start to believe her.

At 21, I’m just now learning not to hate my genitals. I realize that this culture of shame surrounding the vulva and vagina stem from deep-seeded misogyny, and — really — has nothing to do with me.  I have wasted far too much time being ashamed of my perfectly normal, perfectly functioning genitals because of people like these politicians in Michigan who tell me that my body — by virtue of being born female — is offensive. So offensive that its name shan’t even be uttered, lest their ears fall off and their delicate sensibilities are offended.

To them, and to the people like them who are so terrified of my vagina that they feel the need to legislate what I can and can’t do with it: fuck you. My vagina belongs to me. My vulva is perfect the way it is. My body parts are not offensive.

12 years ago Short URL

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17

Jun

Article: I Didn’t Know There Were Cities in Africa!

Link: Article: I Didn’t Know There Were Cities in Africa!

africanbeats:

greenactivista:

Please substitue the word “children” for “99 percent of the idiots using the #peace tag on tumblr.”

I always get too angry to articulate why images of malnourished African children bothers me. Why it is racist. Why it’s wrong.

This article above helps.

The way you think about Africa is wrong.

The way you think about the entire world beyond you is probably wrong.

But let’s start with Africa. Because chances are you paid the 30 dollars for that stupid fucking Invisible Children starter kit. That at one point in time you participated in a 30 Hour Famine at church. Or you “adopted” a starving child with a few friends after you saw a 5 minute infomercial. Possibly you really like Bono. Or Blood Diamond made you feel really bad. Hotel Rwanda made you cry. Maybe you have one of those shirts with the heart in the middle of the continent. Or that you really want to internationally adopt an “orphan.”

The way you think about Africa is wrong.

Did you know that the UNICEF definition of orphanhood as the loss of one or both parents. Did you know that children are adopted by white parents all the time when their biological parents are still alive. Did you know that foreign adoptions happen all the time because parents see themselves as too impoverished or incapable to raise their children on their own. Did you know that Madonna, the supposed savior of Malawi, abducted her child because international adoptions aren’t even legal in that country. 

Did you know that the never-ending stream of donations you send to Africa is destroying local economies and small businesses. Did it ever occur to you that your donations are putting people out of business. Did you consider that you might be creating poverty just for participating in a capitalist system that steals from the poor and then throws them whatever is left over and calls it “charity.” Did it never occur to you, while you were donating money and feeling good about it, why it is that your dollar is needed in the first place.

Did you know that organizations like World Vision (the asshats who brought you the 30 Hour Famine) have set up camps for survivors of war and violence in Uganda, where they regularly impose Christian teachings and values through a process called “sensitization,” in order to get survivors to think more like they do. Did it ever occur to you that there are thousands of languages, cultures, and lives that are being homogenized by “charitable” organizations, and that it’s on your dime.

Did you know that money you donate comes with strings, and sometimes it doesn’t even come at all. Did it occur to you that organizations don’t spend their money unless they want to, and that frequently comes with stipulations. Did you consider that maybe there are places in Africa and elsewhere that really need your money or economic support, but don’t give a fuck about your hegemonic religious values. Did you have any clue that organizations like Invisible Children take in millions of dollars annually, but don’t even spend a third of it in Uganda.

Did you have any idea that countless charities, hospitals, adoption agencies, etc., set up in Africa are illegal, and done without credence to national or local government. Have you heard of volunteer tourism? Did you have any idea that completely untrained and uneducated people are hauling ass to Africa, and building charities that board, educate, and treat young children illegally with absolutely zero recognition of the law of the land in which they are in.

Did it ever occur to you that maybe some people in Africa are doing just fucking fine. They have a house. They own shoes. They have parents and siblings and food and an education and a favorite restaurant and hobbies and ambitions and a happy life. Did you consider that maybe your stupid generalizations and conceptualizations bother and insult them, and make it more difficult to be them.

Did you ever consider that Africa is a living, breathing continent of millions of people who are different. Economically, socially, religiously, lingually, culturally, ethnically different. And that your stupid fucking pictures of malnourished kids, your idolization of Angelina Jolie and Madonna, your ridiculous Invisible Children bracelet, your idiotic KONY 2012 posters are racist. They’re simplifying a place that is not simple. They’re portraying an enormous continent as singular, backward place. Instead of more complicated than you have ever bothered to understand.

You operate autonomously, offering your “help” where it has not been asked for. Blindly donating your dollars and your time without having any idea how it is being spent. 

There are people there. Governments. Cities. There are people living their lives in a continent that you do not understand, but you claim to help.

This rant was long-winded but I’ll conclude.

Just please if you take nothing else away from this. Be critical of the shit you are fed. Africa is a continent. And at least take the time to learn about it before you even consider throwing money or used books or Toms sneakers at it.

I am now officially in love with whoever wrote this!

12 years ago Short URL

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