this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2024
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[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

Representation matters. Giving the few traditionally non-white roles that get written in Hollywood to white actors is an actual problem.

Getting mad about the existence of black characters in fiction fucking stupid. Really fucking stupid. Unjustifiably fucking stupid. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago (1 children)

100% agree, but what should be done would be to green light projects by writers of other races based on different cultures and folklores diversifying the pop culture space (for lack of a better term).

What is done instead is treating minorities as a checklist that needs to be checked in every piece of art even when it doesn't make sense for them to be in that story.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

Exactly. If the roles are the problem, write better roles! I'm surprised it's not seen as an insult if a role is just token-swapped and "pity given" as some kinda EDI-initiative for culture points.

I would love to be exposed to more genuine characters that reflect their backgrounds. But I get a bit annoyed at this bizarre box-ticking tokenism that's clearly pervading Hollywood, as if they ever gave a crap about anybody in the first place.

Stoking identity conflict makes them money. Lots of it. It keeps them relevant at the forefront of "the discussion" in a world where cultural relevance is literal currency.

The same corporations that'll "champion diversity" with a "palette swap" on screen, will outsource their VFX from places with horrible working conditions, for instance. It's all a big show and apparently lots of us are still falling for it.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Getting mad sure, but it is definitely a dumb creative decision to have characters be random races that don't make sense in the historical context and it's fine to criticize it. If it's a purely fictional world with no basis in reality then no one should care.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

No. Fuckin stop it. Its unbearably stupid.

Historical fiction has existed for a long time.

Y'all ain't out here throwing a pouty parade when someone adds technology or magic or monsters into historical fiction.

But black people? Existing? If that's where you draw the line, it's really clear why. Make all the excuses you want.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Historical or alternate history fiction falls under pure fiction imo. That's fine as long as it makes sense. If it's meant to be some super grounded realistic historical slice-of-life then it would just make me think "when are they going to bring up the fact that there's X type of person walking around here" for the whole story.

Not exclusive to black people. If there were a story that took place in 12th century Mongolia and there was some Nordic guy walking around I would be like "huh, what's his story" and then be confused when it was never mentioned. That's how I feel about a lot of these creative choices.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Except there actually were people of different cultures/ethnicities/nationalities in other places in the past, often without anyone caring that much. Sure, it was often notable but it wasn't always exclusionary. Implying this shouldn't be done is the real historical fiction.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

"It happened" and "it is good writing" are different imo. I just want diverse characters in typically mono-ethnic settings to have a story as to how they got there. I feel like that's just good writing.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It could be part of good writing. It absolutely isn't required. We don't get the background on most characters. Why should they have to give detail they wouldn't provide for other characters just to satisfy you?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

I feel like this is deliberately obtuse lol

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago

Oh the sweet voice of a reason, they don't take well to that around here. Good on you.