TV Discussion SWTV Diversity Thread (Minor Spoilers Allowed)

This thread is for the purposes of discussing diversity-related issues. The recent blow-up in the Sabine thread was quite problematic and I found @anakinfansince1983's suggestion of a diversity thread practical. While this thread is, again, for the purposes of diversity, bear in mind that this thread will be very closely patrolled. Here at our former LACWAC we have a diverse posting body and any post deemed deragatory will be dealt with as such. Here's to a thoughtful, productive conversation on an important issue. with a drink or two if you are legal.

 

Who's everybody's favourite Diversity member? Mine's Ashley.

 

Figured this conversation could be continued here as well.

To be fair, there is one other thing to consider here: Besides the issue of offering a strong, diverse female character base for young girls to identify with, there's another factor that could be at work, and that's the crew allowing the marketing department to target boys just like they always do, and once they're hooked, offering up the male characters as role models who are respectful of the women around them. Yes, the marketing strategy is regrettable, but thankfully the demographic for whom it matters most (that is, young kids) probably don't pay quite as much attention to what order the videos or figures come out in and are mostly just interested in seeing the show.

Disney marketing is a nightmare in this area---see the whole Merida princess doll debacle---but it's still possible for socially-conscious showrunners to undermine that marketing stuff with bait and switch tactics like this.

 

So. Proud. Right now.

 

I really think this is a "left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing" scenario with the marketing people. I mean, they made up Merida and put her in the dress that she specifically reviled in the movie because it sold better that way... but they're also the parent company of the people who made the movie to begin with, so it's obviously a tradeoff. I found a lot of flaws with Frozen---seemed more like hitting you over the head with a message than a sincere cinematic effort, to me---but it came from a decent place.

I don't think it's wrong to take the time to call out this marketing strategy as wrong... but Disney knows what they're doing when they hire socially-conscious progressives to write their stuff, but get brutally-frank traditionalists to sell it. I just don't think there's any getting around the fact that, at its core, big business is the enemy of social consciousness. I just have to throw my lot in with the progressive/creative side and hope for the best.

 

Cheers to this thread!

 

I love that Rebels will be incorporating a more diverse leading cast.

I just love it.

I want even more diversity!

 

I wonder if they'll introduce a LBGT character in the series at some point?

 

Exactly my thoughts... Though hopefully better written. Honestly, I think it'd be cool to have one of the main characters be pansexual or something.

 

That's the kicker for me. There's no need for a massive advertising campaign shouting from the hilltops, "We've included a gay character in Star Wars! Aren't we awesome?"

Just write a strong, memorable character, with good development, and maybe they also happen to be gay. Once gay characters can just be present without massive fanfare, then we'll know society has reached acceptance.

 

Done right, it could work..... However.....

You could also get this....

 

We need a Captain Jack Harkness type character from Doctor Who in Rebels or Star Wars period.

 

Pfft.

I wanna see two burly dudes going at it.

HARD.

Full tongue.

 

Captain Jack can give you that, CT, he is a universal try-sexual after all.

 

I want Neil Patrick Harris and George Takei to show up. Not characters played by them, but literally NPH and Takei the people in the Star Wars universe.

Edit: Anderson Cooper too.

 

Male, female, alien, robot, doesn't matter to him.

 

Telling Howard not to make the move on Bernadette.

 

Tssss why's he trying so hard? He should just let things happen naturally or sumtin'! Tssss

/Chip

 

Suppose I should clarify that I enjoyed Jack as a character in Doc Who, didn't like what was done with him in Torchwood, but can't see a version of him ever working in a kids US show without..... Well, a large turd encounters a fan and.....

Would be interesting to see it happen - a headline of a Fox presenter collapsing in apoplexy would make it worthwhile in itself.

You're misreading the gag - it's that he'll try it on with anything and few can resist his charming advances!

 

As one of that group, PLEASE. And not forced, either.