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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

Lit Ignorance is Bias: The Diversity Manifesto

Discussion in 'Literature' started by CooperTFN, Sep 2, 2012.

  1. Ulicus

    Ulicus Lapsed Moderator star 7 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jul 24, 2005
  2. CooperTFN

    CooperTFN TFN EU Staff Emeritus star 7 VIP

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    Jul 8, 1999
    Hi, welcome to the Diversity Thread! I'm afraid that by having posted here, you are now officially a homosexual.
     
  3. Ulicus

    Ulicus Lapsed Moderator star 7 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

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    Jul 24, 2005
    Finally, an explanation!
     
  4. unironically

    unironically Jedi Padawan star 1

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    Jan 14, 2017
  5. JediMara77

    JediMara77 Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 5, 2004
    Since it became an issue on THIS thread:

    QUEER PEOPLE DON'T NEED A REASON TO EXIST, IN REAL LIFE OR IN A STORY.
     
  6. GrandAdmiralJello

    GrandAdmiralJello Comms Admin ❉ Moderator Communitatis Litterarumque star 10 Staff Member Administrator

    Registered:
    Nov 28, 2000
    Tokenism is an interesting concept. It's easy to understand in principle: there's relatively little effort needed to add a descriptor and then do nothing with it.

    I suspect the extent to which that matters says more about what someone values. And I don't specifically mean whether someone is bigoted or not, but rather someone sees inherent value in representation like that.

    But that's still buying into the concept of tokenism, it's just putting a positive gloss on it.

    I submit that the real value is genericizing it -- showing it to be so utterly ordinary that it's not worthy of comment.

    That can look like tokenism too. But it's different.

    Best seen with POC -- the ethnicity of the Rebels cast or of Iden Versio is never commented on in-universe, because it's utterly ordinary and doesn't matter.

    That's the idea. That in itself means something.


    Missa ab iPhona mea est.
     
  7. AdmiralNick22

    AdmiralNick22 Retired Fleet Admiral star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    May 28, 2003
    This world will not fully have embraced diversity until Star Wars movies are filled with Mon Cala of every color, creed, and orientation. Screw humans, I'm frankly tired of them. :p[face_alien]

    --Adm. Nick
     
  8. LelalMekha

    LelalMekha Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Oct 29, 2012
    This reminds me of the Ackbar panels in Princess Leia, Part I. I didn't quite like his appearance there... I can get why people like snarky Ackbar, but he sounded more racist than snarky there.
     
  9. comradepitrovsky

    comradepitrovsky Jedi Master star 4

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    Jan 5, 2017
    I think, for what it's worth, that Star Wars Lit has an easier time introducing LGBT characters then it does POC, because in a world where - for better or for worse - a character is assumed to be white until specified as otherwise, it's harder to describe a character as POC when you can't actually use a lot of the traditional "racial" descriptors. Like, you can't say asian or indian in Star Wars, and it's not often a character talks about, idk, epicanthic folds.
     
    Point Given likes this.
  10. Daneira

    Daneira Jedi Grand Master star 4

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    Jun 30, 2016
    I think "epicanthic folds" is pretty much the only way I've seen Asian characters described in SW books. Isn't that how Seyn was described in Inferno Squad?
     
  11. anakinfansince1983

    anakinfansince1983 Skywalker Saga/LFL/YJCC Manager star 10 Staff Member Manager

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    Mar 4, 2011
    I had no trouble imagining Cienna and Sloane and Kier as black based on how they were described. Asian might be more difficult to describe in the GFFA though.
     
  12. Charlemagne19

    Charlemagne19 Chosen One star 8

    Registered:
    Jul 30, 2000
    When I describe Asian people in my sci-fi and fantasy books, I simply say, "almond shaped eyes."
     
  13. CooperTFN

    CooperTFN TFN EU Staff Emeritus star 7 VIP

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    Jul 8, 1999
    I still, after 8 years, treat characters with no specified racial features as white when I'm scoring stuff--though as the characters who are specified have gotten (relatively) more diverse that's become somewhat more awkward. I suppose the closest thing to "victory" I can envision for diversity scoring would be to get to a point where I felt I could no longer justifiably make those kind of assumptions.
     
    Iron_lord likes this.
  14. Charlemagne19

    Charlemagne19 Chosen One star 8

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    Jul 30, 2000
    I was actually annoyed when some of my readers were shocked one of my main characters was black when I took (apparently not enough) time to point it out. They just thought because it was a Western and Lovecraftian that the protagonist would be a white dude.
     
    Gamiel and CooperTFN like this.
  15. EmperorHorus

    EmperorHorus Jedi Master star 4

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    Sep 3, 2016
    Can you see the issue if you're counting all these non-specified characters as "white" and then using that data as some sort of diversity score? That's just not right, and meaningless. Using the same logic, some guy could go ahead and assume they are all black and then complain that there are too many black people in Star Wars.

    I may have misunderstood what you mean by "scoring stuff", if so just ignore me.

    That's an issue with the readers, not the writing. You could always just start off by specifying skin colour but it's not like you've done anything wrong by not doing it.
     
  16. CooperTFN

    CooperTFN TFN EU Staff Emeritus star 7 VIP

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    Jul 8, 1999
    It's not a perfect situation, but it's something we've discussed a lot over the years and it's very much intentional--the OP goes into my thinking on that in more detail if you're interested. As does this piece from more recently.
     
    Iron_lord likes this.
  17. Counter

    Counter Jedi Padawan star 1

    Registered:
    Mar 3, 2017

    I'm not aware of anyone saying that they do, but I can only speak for myself. It would be nice--and arguably more sincere/respectful--if homosexual characters weren't treated as something to merely mark off a spreadsheet in order to get a cheap applause from people.

    Which is basically Wendig's modus operandi whenever I read his novels or stories. Even Sinjir's presentation had far too many flagrant box-checking exercises. It's how it comes across to me as a reader and serves to routinely pull me out of the story. As does his use of modern day jargon and slang that routinely feels very out of place in the classic Star Wars setting.

    Simply put--I find Wendig to be a very poor author.

    As marked contrast, when the gay moff was presented in Lords of the Sith (I can't recall her name...Mors maybe?), it didn't come across as gratuitous or cheap. She had some semblance of depth as a character which as I recall manifested in a lifestyle obsessed with comfort and luxury to the point of excess. Same goes for Goran and Medrit in the LotF series. We were given their backstory, their professions, dialogue, and they actually advanced the plot.

    My viewpoint isn't expressing opposition to the existence or inclusion of homosexual characters. It's suggesting that giving such characters meaning, depth, and story significance ultimately makes them more than just "a gay character."

    Which is the best kind of diversity in my opinion.
     
  18. CooperTFN

    CooperTFN TFN EU Staff Emeritus star 7 VIP

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    Jul 8, 1999
    Can you think of an example of a straight character whose straightness is "flagrant", or pulls you out of a story?
     
  19. Ewoklord

    Ewoklord Jedi Master star 2

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    Feb 15, 2014
    I for one am incensed that Raymus Antilles has a wife how dare they bring in an element of sexuality where none was present before. Just some more straight-pleasing box-checking.

    /s
     
    Endor_boy, KamNale, Daneira and 7 others like this.
  20. JediMara77

    JediMara77 Force Ghost star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 5, 2004
    Diversity for diversity's sake is not a bad thing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with off-hand referring to a queer character's sexuality the way you would for a straight character.

    Did you have the same problem with Joph's mothers in Bloodline?

    Would you have even noticed if it mentioned Ackmena's husband?
     
  21. Charlemagne19

    Charlemagne19 Chosen One star 8

    Registered:
    Jul 30, 2000
    Corran Horn.

    I could use less of his sex life in my books.

    :D
     
  22. Barriss_Coffee

    Barriss_Coffee Chosen One star 6

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    Jun 29, 2003
    Are you writing about wereotters now?
     
  23. anakinfansince1983

    anakinfansince1983 Skywalker Saga/LFL/YJCC Manager star 10 Staff Member Manager

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    Mar 4, 2011
    Anakin Solo being straight for Mara Jade. Quite a few of the scenes of Luke being straight for Mara pulled me out of the story too.

    And Jag Fel staring at Jaina’s chest. Less of Jag’s heterosexuality and more of Jaina’s piloting skills please.
     
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  24. Ewoklord

    Ewoklord Jedi Master star 2

    Registered:
    Feb 15, 2014
    I mean I guess if the proposed alternative is a full story about Ackmena and her wife I'm not gonna say no to that. More Ackmena in general please.
     
  25. Contessa

    Contessa Jedi Master star 3

    Registered:
    Nov 28, 2013
    Something a lot of Asian people would rather you didn't.

    I think we've been over this...