A thread for discussing representation and diversity in all kinds of media. This covers creators and casting decisions as well as characters and in-universe discussions.
Historical works and decisions are in-scope as well, not just recent news.
Please put any spoilers behind tags and clearly state which work(s) they apply to.
This week, producer Ross Putnam started a Twitter account called "femscriptintros
", where he puts up examples of how women are introduced in the screenplays he's read. And nearly all of sound like terrible porn or are too concerned with emphasizing said lady is beautiful despite whatever traits she may have. Here's a Take Two podcast made today where he talks about it.
(Edited April 19 2024 to add mod pinned post)
Edited by Mrph1 on Apr 19th 2024 at 11:45:51 AM
Ever since the castings were announced, I've seen accusations of her being "miscast" as. Starfire, and I haven't seen evidence that "miscast" isn't just functioning as a euphemism for "black".
Which is not to say that the costumes don't look awful, because they obviously do. At least assuming that photo is representative, which maybe it isn't.
For what it's worth, while I've never heard of the actress and so can't comment on her acting either way, from pictures of her, I would have thought that she would visually be a good fit. So I wouldn't blame her for the questionable costuming.
Also, I have to figure/hope this isn't actually accurate because it's not at all unusual to have a Green-Skinned Space Babe (orangish in this case) on a tv show, so I can't imagine that this is it. Ditto with Beast Boy.
edited 13th Apr '18 3:36:08 PM by Hodor2
Basically. I mean, she's going to be a Green-Skinned Space Babe in the final product anyways so her being played by a black actress should not be a problem. It makes about as much sense as complaining about Zoe Saldana being cast as Gamora.
edited 13th Apr '18 3:33:32 PM by Draghinazzo
Yeah. Edited my post to that effect. I mean it would be pretty bad if she and Beast Boy don't have technicolored skin in the show, but I have to assume that they will.
Edit- @Adric- Yep. That's used way too much as a defense to the most toxic behavior. In fact, although nerds can be shitty in non-sexist and/or racist contexts, I don't think I've ever heard the beloved franchise defense used in a situation not involving sexist/racist abuse toward cast members.
edited 13th Apr '18 3:39:06 PM by Hodor2
The same shit still gets used to attack Ghostbusters 2016 with accusations of Sony guilt tripping people or some stupid nonsensical shit. Like, yeah, I don't give a flying fuck about if misogynists are upset about rightly called out on their bullshit, Leslie Jones was harassed with racist bullshit by fucking Milo Yiannopolis and yet that gets either downplayed or turned into her being a "lolcow". I've outright seen suggestions that Sony bribed the goddamn critics.
Nerd culture is not beloved, nerd culture is toxic bullshit and can quite frankly die in a goddamn fire.
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?I didn't recall that even being in the sentence, but then I must have misread. I apologize. The sarcasm is uncalled for.
Nothing that's a mammal. The most accurate comparison would be a goddamn slug but that'd be an insult to slugs.
edited 13th Apr '18 3:52:24 PM by AdricDePsycho
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
"Territorial as wolves" is hardly sarcasm and definitively not a compliment at all.
The sad thing is, even if we do come back to the topic, what would we say? I trust no one here is actually going to argue with "harrassment, racism, and racist harrassment are all bad".
Thing is, she's a black woman next to a long-living nerd property. Harrassment is inevitable and there's fuck all we can do about it. What would you have us say?
Maybe it's just me growing cynical about all of this.
You're welcome? I don't see it as a big deal... I just checked your page beforehand. Lots of people of different genders frequent here.
edited 13th Apr '18 4:01:22 PM by Luminosity
To move the thread beyond the Titans topic, this
is a column arguing that representation in film "isn't enough" for minorities; the author specifically calls it "performative, and relevant for a short amount to time, it doesn't affect real change" and how they "don't rely on it for personal empowerment" personally.
My thoughts: Obviously representation by itself doesn't do anything... the key phrase being "by itself." It does obvious psychological good for a lot of people, and stories like Black Panther inspiring Afro-Brazilians to occupy traditionally white cultural spaces
demonstrate how media can be a mobilizer for action.
And apparently I get the No Prize for being post #15000. Yay me.
edited 13th Apr '18 5:21:44 PM by Aleistar

Unless you can somehow cast an actual Tamarian, I too don't see how she's "miscast".