4 ms·

I agree with what you wrote. I’ve heard people argue that such action provides a spark for further change. Like brings a new perspective to a group that cascad

I agree with what you wrote. I’ve heard people argue that such action provides a spark for further change. Like brings a new perspective to a group that cascades into more positive effects. It comes to mind the idea of “black children needing black superhero role models” or similarly for girls or other groups. I wonder to what extent this merely reinforces a racist ideology. Why can’t the role model be of any colour? How deep is it, truly, that the tribal behaviour based on group similarities, are ingrained in humans. Interestingly, amongst the well educated, or the wealthy, a different selection criteria is established.

Spivak 5y ago
> Why can’t the role model be of any colour? Because that's just not how it works. You're assuming that the important thing is the role model's race, gender, sexuality. It's about having a character that is like you. How they look is just one small part of it. If you have a movie script where the main character is a white suburbanite man and once it's fully written make his skin color black it doesn't suddenly become good representation.
- raxxorrax 5y ago
  I don't think that is a requirement for a role model and there is empirical evidence to the contrary. So I don't buy "this is not how it works".
simonh 5y ago
Of course role models don't have to be the same gender or race or culture. Plenty of white people find Bruce Lee's life story inspirational, and likewise there are plenty of black kids that are Batman fans. This is normal and healthy. It's still reasonable to wonder why the vast majority of role models are white men, and think about redressing that a bit. The problem is we sometimes get dreck like the Batwoman TV show or Captain Marvel where diversity became a creative shackle; but then we also can get the Wonder Woman* and Black Panther movies where diversity was realised as a creative opportunity. The important thing is to maintain artistic integrity. * And yes I'm aware of the irony given the origins of the character.

Spivak 5y ago

> Why can’t the role model be of any colour? Because that's just not how it works. You're assuming that the important thing is the role model's race, gender, sexuality. It's about having a character that is like you. How they look is just one small part of it. If you have a movie script where the main character is a white suburbanite man and once it's fully written make his skin color black it doesn't suddenly become good representation.

raxxorrax 5y ago
I don't think that is a requirement for a role model and there is empirical evidence to the contrary. So I don't buy "this is not how it works".

simonh 5y ago

Of course role models don't have to be the same gender or race or culture. Plenty of white people find Bruce Lee's life story inspirational, and likewise there are plenty of black kids that are Batman fans. This is normal and healthy. It's still reasonable to wonder why the vast majority of role models are white men, and think about redressing that a bit. The problem is we sometimes get dreck like the Batwoman TV show or Captain Marvel where diversity became a creative shackle; but then we also can get the Wonder Woman* and Black Panther movies where diversity was realised as a creative opportunity. The important thing is to maintain artistic integrity. * And yes I'm aware of the irony given the origins of the character.