non-whites

[seldear]

You know, I'd really love it if professional authors (and, hell, fanfic authors) took an interest in "those coloured people" on the Stargates - both SG1 and Atlantis. I haven't met a professional author yet who was interested in Teal'c, Teyla, or Ronon as anything other than sex fodder or background.

And, no, underdeveloped does not mean uninteresting.

And yes, I know the term "coloured" is an insult in the US. I'm using it deliberately to describe the mindset I see in professional (and fanfic) authors: "only the pretty white people count."

To tell you true, I'm freaking tired of it.

Comments

[gunhilda.livejournal.com]

Well, I just finished a Teal'c centric story. And I try to include women and minorities as supporting cast when I can.

It's difficult sometimes, though, because if you've got a character who is just passing through, it sometimes feels awkward to point out the color of their skin. I don't do a lot of vivid visual detail in my writing, so I haven't figured out how to do that gracefully and still make it sound natural. You can toss in ethnic names (Sanchez) or an accent, but accents are hard to do, too.

I do have to wonder if the lack of diversity in fanfic is a reflection of true prejudice or more one of oversight (and comfort). Is it a matter of "only the pretty white people count" or more "I am white and I am surrounded by white people, so that is what I am comfortable writing." I suppose you could argue that the latter is a form of (non-malicious) prejudice, but, to me, it doesn't necessarily reflect an attitude of superiority. It may just be thoughtlessness and/or a lack of awareness. Neither of which are good, mind you, but I think there is a difference between not understanding (or being uncomfortable with) "other" and actively disliking "other."

Whatever the cause, I agree completely that it is not a good thing, and it is a shame that most fanfiction does not provide a more diverse reflection of the world in which we live.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

it doesn't necessarily reflect an attitude of superiority. It may just be thoughtlessness and/or a lack of awareness.

See, it might not reflect an attitude of superiority, but it reflects a certain close-mindedness to me - and worse, an unwillingness to broaden one's horizons.

Thoughtlessness, I can forgive the first time. But in anyone who's regularly on the internet, I don't think the argument "lack of awareness" is any kind of excuse.

In my mind, anyone who watches the news with a brain cell and their thoughts half-switched on, who has any kind of concept of the world in which we presently live is aware of the "culture wars" and the degree to which race, class, nationality, and economic background are used to separate the "us" from "them".

And I think it should matter in the same way that it should matter that Sam, Teyla, Elizabeth, and Janet aren't repeatedly shown to be helpless wittle women needing rescue by the big strong men.

There's presently an argument going around about 'responsible fanfic writing'. While most people seem to be scrambling to defend their right to write whatever they please in whatever manner they please, I'm on the side for it.

I'm on the side of not glorifying rape; for showing the psychological effects of an incestuous relationship - not just the hawt sexx0rs of two guys who happen to be brothers, but the ways they justify, deal with, and struggle with the attraction, guilt, and shame; for writing persons of colour as heroes and important and mattering in the scheme of things, whether alien or human.

And it just seems to me that there are precious few writers - fanfic or professional - who bother.