Revamped Repost-- "Stereotypes in the 'Verse"
I saw something posted the other day, and it reminded me of the time I tried to push down my ire and initially and not make a fuss about it. And then I realized, after seeing the post, that yes, it still pisses me off. So this is me, and some ponderings.
I don't like setting limits on writing. As a writer, I can't possibly. However , there are some things that I think should be taken in consideration when writing a story. For instance, taking a token character--the sole representation of a minority--let's say, one black guy--and making him into a pimp, gangbanger, rapist, thug, drug user, drug dealer, etc., makes me uncomfortable. In fact, I downright don't like it. It is then that not only a clear imbalance is shown, but also one that could be seen as prejudicial. It sends a message--one that is the opposite of positive. In fact, it perpetuates pre-existing stereotypes that are heinously negative.
I think both shows did a good job of not perpetuating stereotypes with its few black characters. Particularly with Gunn.
*I loved the inversion of a stereotype that Ats did for Gunn--here we have this young black man on the streets who's in a gang, but it's a gang whose mission is to save people and the only reason he's on the street was to fight vamps, and he invented awesome weapons and stuff. Street smart and an inventor.
*I liked Trick. He had his whole Slayer Fest thing and was generally cool. Although his suits could have been construed as the fashion of an old pimp, maybe, I still wish he had more eps before he got whacked.
*Forrest--I think he would have been cool if he could have stopped whinging about the loss of his BFF. He was always in a huff, sure, because some woman was coming between him and Riley, and then it started affecting Riley's decisions on the field. Forrest didn't like being downgraded. But all he did was complain and clench his jaw a lot. Meh.
*There was something about Robin that just annoyed the crap out of me...for reals. Don't know what, but it's nothing stereotypical. He was the smart, mostly level headed principal (with hidden mommy issues--a mom who more or less abandoned him for the job). ETA: I think it would have been more intriguing had he been made Mayor instead of the Principal, and it would have added some nice layers to his character. See more on this in the first three comments.
*Kendra--hated the accent, but I liked her. She was smart, in control of her...what, slayerness? Sure she needed to loosen up a bit at first, but I liked having her around. Also, I was totally ready to ship her and Xander before she was killed and stuff...
However, as good as the show was with the few minorities they had, not necessarily the same holds true in fan fic.
I'm not saying it's something done purposely or with malice--authors may not even be aware that they're doing it.
We've come a long way, but we still have a ways to go. This part of Mel Gibson's rant is a good example: “You go out in public and it’s a f*cking embarrassment to me. You look like a f*cking bitch in heat. And if you get raped by a pack of ni**ers it will be your fault. Alright? Because you provoked it."
(I mean, it's horrible enough at the idea of getting raped period, but it's somehow worse if they're black, I guess).
Or those "joke" emails of cartoons with there being a watermelon patch on the front lawn of the White House, or the other slew of racist things about the First family.
Hopefully this post will inspire some thinky thoughts, for that is the reason for this post. Feel free to discuss in the comments, but keep it clean.
I don't like setting limits on writing. As a writer, I can't possibly. However , there are some things that I think should be taken in consideration when writing a story. For instance, taking a token character--the sole representation of a minority--let's say, one black guy--and making him into a pimp, gangbanger, rapist, thug, drug user, drug dealer, etc., makes me uncomfortable. In fact, I downright don't like it. It is then that not only a clear imbalance is shown, but also one that could be seen as prejudicial. It sends a message--one that is the opposite of positive. In fact, it perpetuates pre-existing stereotypes that are heinously negative.
I think both shows did a good job of not perpetuating stereotypes with its few black characters. Particularly with Gunn.
*I loved the inversion of a stereotype that Ats did for Gunn--here we have this young black man on the streets who's in a gang, but it's a gang whose mission is to save people and the only reason he's on the street was to fight vamps, and he invented awesome weapons and stuff. Street smart and an inventor.
*I liked Trick. He had his whole Slayer Fest thing and was generally cool. Although his suits could have been construed as the fashion of an old pimp, maybe, I still wish he had more eps before he got whacked.
*Forrest--I think he would have been cool if he could have stopped whinging about the loss of his BFF. He was always in a huff, sure, because some woman was coming between him and Riley, and then it started affecting Riley's decisions on the field. Forrest didn't like being downgraded. But all he did was complain and clench his jaw a lot. Meh.
*There was something about Robin that just annoyed the crap out of me...for reals. Don't know what, but it's nothing stereotypical. He was the smart, mostly level headed principal (with hidden mommy issues--a mom who more or less abandoned him for the job). ETA: I think it would have been more intriguing had he been made Mayor instead of the Principal, and it would have added some nice layers to his character. See more on this in the first three comments.
*Kendra--hated the accent, but I liked her. She was smart, in control of her...what, slayerness? Sure she needed to loosen up a bit at first, but I liked having her around. Also, I was totally ready to ship her and Xander before she was killed and stuff...
However, as good as the show was with the few minorities they had, not necessarily the same holds true in fan fic.
I'm not saying it's something done purposely or with malice--authors may not even be aware that they're doing it.
We've come a long way, but we still have a ways to go. This part of Mel Gibson's rant is a good example: “You go out in public and it’s a f*cking embarrassment to me. You look like a f*cking bitch in heat. And if you get raped by a pack of ni**ers it will be your fault. Alright? Because you provoked it."
(I mean, it's horrible enough at the idea of getting raped period, but it's somehow worse if they're black, I guess).
Or those "joke" emails of cartoons with there being a watermelon patch on the front lawn of the White House, or the other slew of racist things about the First family.
Hopefully this post will inspire some thinky thoughts, for that is the reason for this post. Feel free to discuss in the comments, but keep it clean.