Diversity in Storytelling: We’re Getting There

[comedychick]

Whilst I’m not as big of a consumer of various media these days as I have been in the past, I have noticed there being a trend in the sorts of stories I enjoy. I’m not sure exactly when it started or why, but diversity is a part of the equation. Is it because when there’s a diverse cast, I feel like the writer(s) have paid more attention to

Comments

[comedychick]

I did say, Now, they don’t always get it right. I was saddened in season 3 when some of my favourite “minority” characters started getting less of the spotlight, but at least they still try. ;)

No, they haven't been doing a very good job in certain areas, but isn't it still better than having a solely white cast? (I also deliberately chose not to mention The Big Bang Theory because I think their stereotypes are worse than Glee's)

I'm not really sure I understand what you mean by the misogyny, though. Maybe I haven't noticed it? Or maybe whatever is in there seems to represent my understanding of high school? I mean, America has gotten horribly misogynistic. I don't think Glee is as bad as the things I hear about on the news, so maybe that's where my thinking comes in. *shrug

[comedychick]

I guess I'm not familiar with gay women stereotypes because again, I don't really know what you're referring to. I'm interested to know though, as someone who is leaning toward writing those characters, because I like to try and avoid stereotypes when I can

[vaguelyclear]

Whilst I do appreciate the use of gay characters in television, I don’t really like the erasure of their “straight” history, acting like their previous relationships didn’t mean anything.

I can't speak for The Secret Life of Us, but in relation to Buffy and Willow, I would argue that to some extent, the writers did acknowledge her relationship with Oz. When he comes back towards the end of S4 and finds out that there may be something more between Willow and Tara, he and Willow actually talk about it and talk about what they meant to each other, which I felt was an appropriate way to leave things with them. Could they have done more? Yeah, sure. But at the same time, it's hard to bring up a character that has left the show, into later storylines, especially if they never actually appear in those episodes. So maybe it wasn't that they wanted to erase her straight history, but rather that they felt they could only work with what they had and what characters still remained

[comedychick]

It's been a long time since I've watched Buffy so I don't really remember that moment from season 4. But even so, I guess I was referring to the things that came after. I might be wrong but I feel like Willow had been later referred to as a lesbian, which to me is like erasing her "straight" history, the fact that she is actually probably more likely bisexual. Just because you end up falling in love with a woman and have a monogamous relationship with them doesn't make you a lesbian. But maybe she was not actually referred to as a lesbian and that was an assumption on my part.

I read about the uproar over Rue's casting, and frankly I thought it was disgusting that people reacted that way. I've not read the book but I did watch the film. I do understand that it can be easy to read over those details (I doubt people reading about my African American's limited scenes will remember he is one since I think I only refer to it once). But does that mean we should exclude it entirely? I don't think so.

I think in some respect, the same can

[vaguelyclear]

This is as much a reply to you as it is to Jeremiah’s comment below about Willow - maybe she was gay. I tend to think that, as an audience, we can't really make conclusions or assumptions about everything we see or don't see. Maybe the production team and Joss Whedon and Alyson Hannigan discussed Willow’s sexuality and decided that that was what she now identified as? We don't know, and the fact that there wasn't a conversation about it on the show doesn't automatically mean that they just disregarded it and “turned” her gay because it was simpler that way. I mean, in the grand scheme of Buffy, Willow’s sexuality was not a huge deal after she got involved with Tara, you know? IMO, anyway.

Fun tidbit: I only found this out recently, but in the comic book Season Eight of Buffy, Buffy herself as a fling/semi-relationship with another slayer, but doesn't identify as being a lesbian as a result.

But does that mean we should exclude it entirely?No, of course not and I wasn't suggesting that. But I do think with books, the author needs to

[comedychick]

I guess; I have just never heard of or know anyone personally who has identified as a lesbian who has been in a heterosexual relationship (and sexually attracted to men) as long as Willow had. Does that mean it can't happen? I guess not. But I would probably still personally consider them bisexual even if they don't... though I would judge on a case by case basis.

I haven't read season eight so I can't pass any judgement on that. However, times have changed a bit, and different writers could have different opinions about these things. Also, it doesn't sound like exactly the same scenario that Willow went through. I'd be more curious if Buffy's experience had her still identifying as straight, or bisexual.

so if a character’s race or sexuality *is* a big deal to the author and they feel it’s pertinent to the story or the development of the character, then they need to emphasise that in their writing.

I'm relatively sure I've done that with the characters it is important for.

so maybe you just haven't come across a lot of it?Yeah,

[i_17bingo]

Being a straight dude who's never felt like "switching sides" I don't know how the fluidity of bisexuality, or even homosexuality feels. And so, in the case of Willow, it was never really clear which way she actually went. Before she hooked up with Tara, she had spent three and a half seasons pining for Xander and Oz, and then three and a half seasons (four and a half if you count references made on Angel) as a lady-lover, we still only know a small arc of her life.

I will go on record, however, saying that her use once of "I'm gay" to shoot down even the possibility of a
repeat of her season-three Xander infidelity still makes my skin skin crawl. We still have a long way to go.

[comedychick]

I don't remember the context of Willow saying that. But I have known of women saying that just because they're not interested in the particular man, or they're not interested in men right then (I did go through a period of thinking I was a lesbian when I was younger and not feeling attracted to men any more, but I was a little younger than Willow when she went gay).

Lisa replied to my comment above and said it was as much a reply to you about the Willow stuff, in case you want to read that.

[adoptedwriter]

Great " article"! Also, Happy birthday! AW

[comedychick]

Thanks!