On a serious note...
At the risk of opening a can of spotted, striped, purple and
green caterpillars, I was hoping to gauge your thoughts on the best way to
represent ethnicity in our story writing. This is in response to the
head-shaking hoopla that recently took place over Canada's new $100 bill design;
a sort of ‘show-case scenario’ on the current state of affairs when it comes to being politically correct about the inclusion of race.
Basically, certain focus study groups (whoever the hell they
were and why we're wasting money on this anyway) didn't think depicting an
Asian-looking woman with a microscope represented Canada "correctly" and felt
that a "neutral, non-ethnic" look would be more appropriate. Just to
add to the confusion, the bill also shows a bottle of insulin, for which Dr.
Frederick Banting and Professor John Macleod received a Nobel Prize for
discovering, back in 1923.
While it may have been historically accurate to include
Banting or Macleod in the illustration (and saved a lot of headaches), I guess
it was kind of nice that they tried to include both a female and an ethnic minority
in the original design—all in one pop! Canada gives recognition to a huge
percentage of its population and celebrates the diversity of culture for which
it is known and founded upon, and someone is lucky enough to possess a $100
bill in their wallet. So what’s the problem?
While some study group individuals felt the image presented "a stereotype of Asians excelling in technology and/or the sciences" (that's one stereotype I wouldn't mind fitting, personally), others felt choosing to
represent one ethnic minority above another, was unfair. Hence the default
inclusion of a “neutral, non-ethnic” looking woman; AKA Caucasian—which makes
absolutely no sense what-so-ever. How can any one race be neutral and
non-ethnic? That’s like saying: ‘I
don’t have an accent; you have the
accent’—and actually being daft enough to believe it.
Okay. So now you have the background—the show-case scenario of how twisted society's collective nickers have become—and an understanding of why I'm thoroughly confused as to the "right" way to write.
Back in 1994 when I landed my first full-time job out of
college as a graphic designer/video producer, I was drawing a lot of cartoon
scenes for children (wish I’d stayed in England for that job alone)... I remember
being taught to change the skin tones up and avoid stereo-types in my
illustrations. As you can imagine, this takes some consideration to achieve the
“right” balance; or as right and as fair as you can get, anyhow.
Ever since then, I have been overtly aware of the group formulas
selected in every government issued pamphlet, website, children’s television programming,
etc. At times, the outcome is almost comical in its attempt to include EVERYBODY; including a friendly dispersal of facial hair, hats, and bald heads.
It seems somewhat backwards to go looking for differences then highlight them in
an attempt to make them appear more “normal”. What is different; what is
normal? Who gets to decide and why?
And I wonder: are we trying too hard? Can you try too hard? I don’t know. But I still think it’s a shame
the ethnicity of the woman on that bill ever mattered at all.
As a writer, I will face new challenges when it comes to depicting multiculturalism (say if scenes take place within a busy city, and the story is aimed at teens/young adults): who will my characters be, and how much detail should I include in their physical descriptions? Personally, I prefer to
keep shallow descriptions minimal and quirky and let the personality paint a picture best left to the reader's imagination; unless, of course, there is a specific reason to mention a physical attribute (and there often can be, don't get me wrong). But I know for me, if a book dictates that a female character is beautiful simply because she has blue eyes and long blond hair, you just lost a reader.
So I guess my question is this: If you never mention skin colour or ethnicity at all, then are you suggesting every single character in the book is the same colour/race as your main character? Is it okay to avoid the subject all together and let the reader fill in their own blanks?
OR: should you try to subtly introduce multiculturalism (to highlight a feature or character name, e.g.—if, say, you don't know their country of origin and don't want to linger in conversation about their ethnicity), as seen from the view point of our main character? And what if a stereo-type is unavoidable, for whatever reason?
So I guess my question is this: If you never mention skin colour or ethnicity at all, then are you suggesting every single character in the book is the same colour/race as your main character? Is it okay to avoid the subject all together and let the reader fill in their own blanks?
OR: should you try to subtly introduce multiculturalism (to highlight a feature or character name, e.g.—if, say, you don't know their country of origin and don't want to linger in conversation about their ethnicity), as seen from the view point of our main character? And what if a stereo-type is unavoidable, for whatever reason?
I'd like to try is what I'm saying; I just don't want to screw it up!
Incidentally, the main character for my first novel, Hallows
Realm, is a highly evolved reptilian creature from the Underworld. And he’s
green. (It ain't easy being green.) He thinks we humans are ALL a bit funny-looking.
***
Sources:
Good grief you have created a dilemma for yourself haven't you?
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be wonderful if we could write about people without defining them by colour, gender, religion or sexual preferences? But then, we would have to stop thinking of people that way in our real lives wouldn't we? And once we accomplished that...wouldn't the world be a better place to live in?
I think all the PC stuff has gotten way out of hand. But that may be just me. In my writing I keep everything from the characters' points of view. They don't need to be PC. The writer just shows differences in real people the same as you show differences in your green reptile and orange birds or whatever.
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks, you two. Wasn't sure I'd get any answers on this one. ;)
ReplyDeleteLawless: Yes, I have! LOL. A person can think too much. :D It was much easier being a kid when I didn't have to notice, or be told to notice, all these things. We're obsessed by labels!
Carol: It has gotten incredibly mind boggling, hasn't it. I think you're right, if it's a close POV, then you have to stay in character with how they'd see things. I kind of have a clean slate with a reptilian creature, I suppose, but there are other challenges to this. What have I done! :D
Well, you've kinda half-solved the problem for yourself, haven't you? If your character is a green reptilian creature, you've got it made, because no one is gonna scream foul as to how you depict HIM. (As you know, most reptiles keep their opinions to themselves.) It strikes me as rather ludicrous that paper currency is now assuming the task of trying to depict multi-culturism, for heaven's sake. Political correctness has gotten completely out of control. All we want from our money is to be able to spend it. Don't need a history lesson on every bill, or a "sensitive depiction" of our country's make-up. In writing, we do want to handle the issue with a certain amount of sensitivity, though. There are quite a few black characters in my book, but their race doesn't define who they are, and isn't the first thing I say about them, if I even say it in so many words at all.
ReplyDeleteBy 'black' do you mean, African American? ;) I really have a hard time keeping up with acceptable terms. And I'm 'white', just like my dog! But really I'm more... nude, pink? I don't even know what I am. LOL.
DeleteYou're probably right there, they should have just avoided this with currency to begin with. Why a generic person at all? Give me a beaver or a moose. But just give me the goddamn money already!
Great points, Susan. I tell ya, I am itchin' to read that book of yours!!!
Heh heh. Focus study groups, politically correct thinking, ethnicity---sort of like Aesop's Boy, Man and Donkey story. Whom do you please? People just seem to enjoy having their knickers in a knot over something. That probably explains why so many walk funny.
ReplyDeleteI understand Beatirx Potter was criticized for using big words and not being morally instructive. The world knows who she is but who were her critics?
I do understand that white males have run the show for far too long (hehehhee... as I enjoy telling my husband) and taken too much for granted, but where does it end! I've seen that walk!
DeleteI'm so glad some moron somewhere is deciding all this for me. ;)
I try not to worry about the PC stuff. I add in race when that's how I see the character. If I don't say so-and-so is black, how will the reader know?
ReplyDeleteI think your character sounds interesting. If your reader can connect with him, you've won half the battle.
This is encouraging to hear, that we don't just avoid it all together, then. I think that's the best you can do, really.
DeleteGreat point, Emily. Very helpful. Thank you.
I agree. Then be sure to shy away from any cliches, like killing off the black dude. :)
DeleteWhat an exciting $100 bill! Captain Nemo in flotation device, little guy at the periscope. In the movie they got attacked by a giant squid but the pointy leaf-monster is ok too. As for different colored characters, on some backgrounds --or any number or letter on a red background-- I find them impossible to read.
ReplyDeleteThat's anti-red-ist, Geo! I'm reporting you. :)
DeleteThey should use the pictures of the actual scientists. Why fictionalize? They can update the bill every couple of years with a new representative of Canada: White, Black, Asian, Mexican, Inuit, whatever ya go. Plenty to go around!
ReplyDeletePearl
They really should have. Hey, yeah, and you could collect'em and trade'em, too. Cool!
DeleteThe thing is, Canada is a melting pot. The only true Canadian is aboriginal and even they came from somewhere, so, I ask you, what's the problem with showing someone with an ethnic background on a $100 bill...we've all got ethnic backgrounds. Besides, I couldn't begin to tell you what's on paper money..I just spend it lol.
DeleteIt is, Lawless. The bank has actually apologized for changing it now! Nobody would have cared, I don't think. And exactly, we all came from the same source, really!
DeleteLiving in the P/C world must be exhausting. One would be frozen to inactivity, while figuring out all the responses to a simple choice. Pearl is correct.
ReplyDeleteIt's true. God knows there are enough obstacles out (and in) there to begin with. I guess if you have good intentions, that's good enough.
DeleteHi CarrieBoo,
ReplyDeleteDid you know that there are some folks who mistake Canadian money for Monopoly money? Anyway, I rejoice in diversity and would do my best to not use any worn out stereotypical depictions.
Of course, I do struggle with the 'race against time' aka 'aliens who hate clocks'...Ignore me, I'm outta' here.
Happy writing, eh.
Your starstruck fan, Gary :)
Gary. :D Giggling away here. I'd love to try spending my Monopoly money...
DeleteI'd be happy to be depicted as a science geek, personally. But most stereotypes are pretty bad. Aye, lad!
Now that most countries have become multi-cultural, I can see the dilemma that governments find themselves in. The US solved it by putting presidents on its bills, all white men. Finally, they made a Susan B. Anthony dollar coin which many people could not distinguish from a 50 cent piece. Needless to say, it was not accepted by the populous. They had to know this when they researched it but I think they wanted to throw women a bone of equality. It was a very thin bone.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I only like brief descriptions of people in a book so I can visualize them as I choose. I am sometimes disappointed when they make a movie of a book I loved and the people look so different than what I imagined.
I believe in diversity and appreciate anything that can be done to promote this. However, sometimes things are over-thought and the result ends up driving people crazy.
It has to start somewhere, even if it's not perfect, I suppose. But it seems to backfire when they do try, which is a shame. Interesting they tried it with your coins, too, then.
DeleteYes! That really throws me. Especially when it's some overly popular/used actor/actress. I guess that's why you can never beat a book.
That's it in a nutshell, Arleen. Thanks for your feedback! Some good food for thought here.
Oh fergodssakes they have to make a huge deal of anything these days. Here's an idea: make a list of every whatever person in whatever profession (yes real people) they're trying to portray and have a monkey pick a number. Whatever number the monkey picks is who gets used. Done.
ReplyDeleteIdiots.
LOLOL! I think monkey's are in control anyway. Might as well give it a go.
DeleteFor someone who didn't think they would get any responses you have opened a fine can of worms.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what the answer is either. I would think it depends on the market you are aiming for.
And you are so right - defining beauty as tall, slender and blonde loses me quickly. As does defining all Muslims as terrorists. Sadly, both still happen. Aaaargh.
Write what you want/need to.
Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe hit the nail on the head. I refuse to see movies made from a book I love because they NEVER ever match my mental pictures.
Hahha! Really, eh. ;)
DeleteTrue... and kind of what's in your heart, too.
Yes, I grew up being force fed that ideal and it stinks! I put that example, as the second page of a book I started the night before, said something like, "Though she had blue eyes and long blond hair, she blah blah looked tired... " I shut the book. I can understand why people get fed up with being told how things are, how they are meant to think and feel.
I have a 'never watch the movie first', but I can see why you'd never want to see the movie. Thanks, EC. Good stuff.
Well. I think we have created the problem ourselves. We are in fact differant in color. Our hair, eyes, skin, whatever. When I am describing something I dont say that person over there as there are 50 of them. I describe them as I see them. Short white chic with the green dress on. Tall buff black man with the State hat. I dont care what a person looks like but I want to creat a picture. Why are we so afraid of color? I like the colors, the creative lights and darks in the world. Even if the world were blind we would still create a way to describ the differances in people. That low voiced man with the too quick step. That cackling woman with the prickly hands. I refuse to become PC. PC is ruining the world and creatiing the race issues and the religion issues and I will not conform to that crap. Why do we all want to be the same anyway? We are infact...(gasp)...differant.
ReplyDeleteAs to writing, right what you see. Conform to no-one!
But...that's just me.
It's the making assumptions on people's character through their looks that is the problem, I think. Sadly, that happens all the time. I wouldn't want to contribute to that, but yeah, none of us can help how we look. I don't mind a little description, enough to get a feel for the image, when it's a realistic book with real people in it. I don't think every single character needs a huge description, though.
DeleteIt's making people uptight, that's for sure. We're all afraid to speak. I see it in Ontario where I live, especially. We've all turned into robots.
I hadn't heard a thing about the 100 dollar bill fiasco but this doesn't surprise me in the least. Canada tries SO HARD to be multi-cultural and accepting of all people and this is a good thing, it really is. I'm proud to live in a place that tries so hard. Still, it can be downright comical when the powers-that-be start prancing around trying to figure out how best not to offend people.
ReplyDeleteI think we should stick to putting animals, leaves and boats on our bills. More canoes and beavers! WOO HOO!
Sorry, Carrie, I meant to say how much I loved your Photoshopped picture of green you and the window washers. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cathy! It was a fun image to play with, big kid that I am. And I'm proud too. :) Even if I do get confused, I think we keep making it a better world to live in, especially for our kids who won't be nearly so confused.
ReplyDeleteI try not to think about it too much, but it's definitely one of those that when done, should be done well.
ReplyDeleteI like the picture!
I think one just writes the story, using the characters that would naturally inhabit that story. So if I write about a ten-year-old schoolgirl, she's likely to have friends named, oh, Lupe and Latisha and Max and Sarah. If readers want to assume race and/or coloring based on those names, that's up to them. A character might have Abuela rather than Grandma, if the story has a reason for grandparents to be involved. Other than that, I don't describe my characters in terms of race.
ReplyDeleteOf course if I'm writing about zombie bunnies, it really doesn't apply...
You two snuck in there... :)
DeleteYeah, for sure. Thanks, Amy! And thanks for stopping by.
Hey Kate! Right. That's sort of what I was thinking. I had one character named "Raj" and I figure, let people conjure the roots of a name for themselves. Thank you! That's sort of what I needed to hear, just wasn't sure how to ask the question, and didn't want to "lead". ;) Yes, zombie bunnies are a whole other kettle of fish.