Elves as white supremacists.
So I got into an argument with my betters again, today. Over what amounted to the purpose of rage-posts. It seems as if there's a almost even divide among my internet buddies over the utility of vitriol-filled 'deconstruction' posts. The one I linked above is about the evils of the traditional elf trope; the perfect white long-lived technology-abhorrent peoples who are oh-so-much better than everyone else (especially people with darker skin tones). Put that way, yes, the trope is absolutely hideous, and something to get angry about.
Where I seem to differ is that I don't think writing a Spider Jerusalem-esque post that paints the world as black and white - all elves are evil, should not be used as a trope, and any attempt to 'fix' the trope is completely futile and a further indication of white writers ethnocentrism - is particularly useful in changing the way the system works.
That opinion, understandably, got me into a lot of trouble. But when I write a hate-filled post, raging at something, I don't expect it to be taken seriously. In fact, I kindof prefer if it wasn't. That way, when I read it later, I don't have to feel ashamed of myself.
Rage isn't something that you think about analytically - its something that pours out of you, denying all opposition, ignoring all logic. You can't do anything with rage, and if you are powerless, you drive off the people who would be willing to help. Rage doesn't change opinions, rage doesn't make friends - except among people who agree 100% with your point. Its sets up an 'us vs. them' mentality - making everyone who doesn't agree the enemy, while everyone else must conform completely or risk having that rage turned against them.
So what do you get from a rage post? The writer gets to vent, which is good. New information gets put out there, also a good thing. But who is going to read it? People who agree with the point, people who aren't turned off by the way its said. No, authors shouldn't have to 'tone down' their anger. But at the same time readers shouldn't be expected to simply shut up and take it and never disagree. Some people reading it will get turned off, and that's not somehow reflective of them being horrible people. Its reflective of the writing style of the author.
Rage doesn't do anything. Its a hateful emotion, bitter and nasty. Rage doesn't build anything, and it doesn't change anything either. The people who could have heard the message won't, because they'll just write the article off, and even if they did read it, it offers no alternatives. What change does it make? The readers who wouldn't have used the elf trope in the first place will continue to do so - not much change there. The people who do will come off feeling bad, but probably will see no alternative, because there is none offered - changing the nature of elves is viewed unilaterally as 'appropriation', never mind the ethnicity of the author. So no change there either. Knowledge was gained - but to what effect? It doesn't even make a few people feel better about getting screwed over by literature, since if they disagree with a point, no matter their reasons, they're still going to get the full brunt of the rage.
But. I'm a privileged white girl. Since I don't have any reason to be unhappy with my life, clearly I can't sympathize with other people. =.= Suggesting that rage isn't a worthwhile way of living is an indication of my privilege, since I've never had to suffer. Living in constant anger is really the best way to accomplish things - that way people will respect you and listen to your ideas, even if you tell them that their ideas are worthless in response. Protest rallies and peace talks accomplish nothing - its better to take guns onto the streets and fire-bomb clinics. Rage accomplishes more. Respect takes time.
So, is the only good elf a dead elf? Honestly? No. Not because I'm some privileged white girl who can't possibly understand the damage any elf I write does. But because that denies everyone unilaterally the ability to write about something. The article alienates not only the people who are at fault - namely the WASP authors who write about the stereotypical elves - but also every 'person of color' who has ever written a non-conformist elf, or any 'white' person who's ever tried to deconstruct the trope. It pins the blame on the continuation of a trope that is some thousand years old not just on the originators or ones who use it without thinking, but also on the people daring to fix it. Black and white, all elves are evil and you should never write them...that just doesn't seem like the way to stop a trope, at least to me.