10 ms·
My main issue is that it’s scattershot diversity, not a thoughtful diversity. Scattershot diversity is what Hollywood films also are finding out causes anger.
by gjsman-1000 3y ago
My main issue is that it’s scattershot diversity, not a thoughtful diversity.
Scattershot diversity is what Hollywood films also are finding out causes anger. It’s when you take all the races, genders, etc., and just make sure there’s at least one of each in every movie. This also ironically cheapens diversity, because everyone doubts whether that character would have been there if it wasn’t for the race card.
Compare this with targeted, meaningful diversity. A film studio might make 4 films: One set in 1500s England, one in modern Congo, one in Brazil, one in Mongolia. The British one is almost entirely white people, the Congo one almost entirely black people, etc.
My point is: Vary up the locale, and keep the diversity accurate to the locale. If the locale is diversified enough, the diverse representation will follow with almost no complaints. It’s not like Europe has a monopoly on stories - I’m sure that every culture has stories untold that could be adapted into interesting material.
- Arainach 3y agoI have yet to meet anyone legitimately angry for the reasons you claim. I have met several who profess such a belief, but in every single case it is the presence of anyone not like them in the representation that they disagree with, not any actual thoughtfulness. These people always find a new goalpost to move to: "How dare they have a black person on this show?" "How dare they have a black person kiss a white person on this show?" "How dare they have a [X] on this show?" "How dare they have characters not speaking English on this show?", etc., etc. Not being pandered to 100% of the time does not mean that someone is being repressed. These are *auxiliary graphics in a phone app*. Not even UI elements. Is this really something you consider worth getting worked up about and resenting?
- gjsman-1000 3y agoIf every graphic was of a straight white male named Bob, are you telling me you wouldn’t give a darn yourself? By your own logic, they are auxiliary graphics in a phone app, so who cares? On that note: “I have yet to meet anyone legitimately angry for the reasons you claim” 1. Where do you get the authority to determine a legitimate reason? Have you dialogued with them to fully understand, instead of stereotyping? 2. Congratulations, you just met me.
- kelseyfrog 3y agoIt sounds like you welcome diversity, but have high standards on what folks might call "token diversity". Did I get that right? I'm not exactly the right way to phrase this, but you might say that token diversity isn't grounded with in-universe explanation, or something like that? If that's true, how do you approach topics like sex and gender? How does one justify a character being queer, trans, &c? On one had I can see, "their identity should add to the story," but on the other hand in real life plenty of people simply are queer or trans or whatever and completely and have stories to tell that don't relate to their identity. If that's not true, please disregard. :)
- numpad0 3y agoAnd what you have characterized as scattershot diversity is basically same as racial caricaturization. Is adding a heebie lussiyan achshent to a random drunkard character a sign of respect to Russian nationals and embracement for diversity? Likely not…