All posts by Brooklyn05
Hestia, Hecate, and Hebe are some of my favorites. And they all start with "h" lol.
I'm just going to assume you didn't read the article since you didn't answer my question. So here's the link. I think it will answer most of your questions.
How does it still count if Rick isn't fetishizing the characters?It isn't just fetishizing, it's dehumanizing. The intent is irrelevant.
What about sensory language being used for people of different ethnicities?Like white people? I believe the article addresses this so I'll copy the section here:
But I call my White characters milky, peachy…
It’s your prerogative to compare your white characters to dairy products and such, but remember: White people are not People of Color. I have my doubts that White people experience any fetishizing, dehumanizing flashbacks with such comparisons. Still I have heard from those who aren’t so keen on these sorts of comparisons either, so keep that in mind.
Thalia was very capable of moving out of the way.No duh, I never said she wasn't. She was stationary and didn't move, that's the point.
It's the same logic when you compare reaction speed to running speed.How? Your fingers aren't moving at supersonic speeds when you snap, so your example doesn't work.
No one in the series has protected themselves like this,No one in the Riordanverse has ever spammed waves either.
Children of Poseidon can protect themselves from a ghostification attemptThey can't. There are multiple ways of ghostification that could be used, instakill is something that they would not have protection from.
I'm talking about how far away Percy was from the rock.There is still no evidence that there was a tremor before the rock was summoned.
The water was spinning BECAUSE he was creating a hurricane and not an individual whirlpool.Re-read the quote. He made a whirlpool for the crocodile and then he made the hurricane.
And why are you still saying he has to pause when he's controlling waterBecause he literally does in the examples I gave.
Anything to say about the examples I gave?They're good examples, but I still think his attacks are more effective when he concentrates.
@Hahamacromeow Did you not read the article?
By reading to much into things I was talking about how people are way to quick to connect stereotypes to a character and make something racist / a race issue when in truth it’s the people taking things the wrong way that make it a race issue.Because most of the time it is a race issue and should be addressed.
(The godly parents and eyes rant)Though I don't find this to be racist, I still think this is an issue because they aren't accurate portrayals of the communities. Giving POC characters eurocentric features is such an old and overused trope to convey a certain ability, but there are so many other, and more creative ways to do this. I'm a POC, and when I was younger, I always wanted lighter eyes because I saw that a lot in books (PJO and that weird fairy series I was obsessed with) and shows (like ATLA) because I thought it meant that I was special or better. I often felt bad about my brown eyes and hair and not-so-happy times unused, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
My main issue is people nitpicking over things that shouldn’t matter or I believe your taking the wrong way and or blowing out of proportion. No one is "nit picking" though. These aren't small or unimportant errors, they are big issues that should be pointed out because they add to a bigger and more harmful narrative that shouldn't be presented to a young audience.
Ik, I just really agreed with your statement
more representation is not necessarily better representation.Say it louder!
Reading to much into thingsDid you not read the quotes I gave earlier? It's right there in your face. No one is "reading too much into things", what do you even mean by that?
taking things out of context and or giving them false contextHow are any of the issues that we are bringing up, out of context?
The bottom line is none of the stuff he wrote was with harmful intent in fact it was with positive intent.It doesn't matter what his intent was, what he wrote was harmful to the communities he's trying to represent and we should hold him accountable for it. Period.
Which should be enough to satisfy you since he actually made an effort to diversify his books.I appreciate the fact that he tried to have a more diverse set of characters, but if he's displaying harmful stereotypes and narratives about my race or any other race for that matter. I'm going to call him out for it.
It is not ok for people to go an attack Rick on his social media bc they don’t like how he wrote a fictional character. First of all, no one here is attacking him, we are holding him accountable for what he wrote. Second, fictional characters can impact people in real life too. Especially when they are presented/geared towards a younger audience.
A middle aged white man should never describe a minor like that. Never.
They don't need to know the statistics to see that this is wrong. I didn't know the statistics when I read this at first, but my 10-year-old brain knew it was wrong (To clarify, I was 10 when I read first read TLH. I'm well over 10 right now).
“But now she was adorned in a beautiful white sleeveless gown that went down to her ankles, with a V-neck so low it was totally embarrassing.” (The Lost Hero, page 95)
And there is another one in TOA
How did these even make it past the editor???
Not to mention Rick explicitly fetishized and hypersexualized Piper in TLH when these statistics exist:
It's disgusting.
Istg if someone says that...
If I recall correctly, something like that.
Person of color
Okay, let me just get this out of the way right now. DO NOT use food to describe a Poc (if you are not POC). I'm just going to copy and paste this post that I found here that says it best:
The Food Thing: So what’s the big deal?
So exactly what is the problem with comparing a POC’s skin tone to cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar and other sweets and goods? Well, there’s several potential problems you come across when you pull out the old Hershey’s bar comparison for your dark-skinned character, even if offense is not your intention.
It’s Fetishizing.
In an attempt of seduction, a white guy once told me that my skin was like “the bite into a Reese’s.”
Needless to say, I was not seduced.
It can get extremely uncomfortable, being or witnessing Black people and other POC being compared to food, even as a “compliment.”
“I love me some chocolate men.”
“Your skin’s like a mocha latte.”
“I wanna piece of that chocolate.”
See how often these comparisons are connected to some sensual desire? As if people of Color are food to consume?
This frequent comparison to cocoa and such just in time to highlight some kinky craving is not just grounds of a fetish, it’s dehumanizing.
Honestly, this quote from notanotherrph says it best.
[Text reads: NEVER use the words ‘chocolate’ or ‘coffee’ or any other food related word to describe someone’s skin color, especially someone of color. I wrote a whole paper about how referring to darker skin tones as specifically chocolate was about aggression and appropriation and has links to colonialism. Think about it, what is the best way to show dominance? By eating someone - like in the animal kingdom. It’s a disgusting practice, so please watch yourself while writing biographies and replying to people, or even in your short stories/novels.]
The next issue? It’s Cliché.
I’ve read one too many books in which authors compare dark skin to chocolate, brown sugar, honey, caramel…And these are very specific word choices that, in terms of describing skin tone, have become tired and cliché. And we writers don’t like cliché, eh?
And though I’ve read it numerous times, it doesn’t make me cringe any less at the author’s blatant lack of originality in this regard. Now no one’s saying go wild, but to rely on these same ole descriptions that go out of their way to say something other than brown…we can do better.
One Word: Slavery.
Get this. Cocoa. Coffee. They drove the slave trade. They still drive the slave trade. So comparing your Black character to these foodstuffs? You can see why it’s cause for offense.
It’s especially harmful to compare those of the African Diaspora to chocolate and coffee, but for the reasons above, I think all People of Color deserve more than these comparisons, again and again.
But I call my White characters milky, peachy…
It’s your prerogative to compare your white characters to dairy products and such, but remember: White people are not People of Color.
I have my doubts that White people experience any fetishizing, dehumanizing flashbacks with such comparisons. Still I have heard from those who aren’t so keen on these sorts of comparisons either, so keep that in mind.
Additionally; you sure you like being compared to food like us POC?
But POC call each other…
Folks can’t do what POC do amongst each other, particularly what’s done within their race. I can call myself a delicious brown sugar honeycomb (okay I wouldn’t) and that’s my prerogative as a Black woman.
The whole “he wants that chocolate” line has even been jokingly passed between my Black friends and I as well. But obviously conversational jokes are not the same as a writer describing their character as such. And again, within circles…
I still wanna compare my character to food, though. I have this really good comparison that’s not chocolate and—
Again, that’s your prerogative. Avoiding food comparisons, especially chocolate & coffee to Black people and other food when describing POC is simply my advice, and I know a lot of People of Color who agree.
But i’m not gonna hover over your desk as you write, swatting your hands as that peanut butter comparison creeps out from your fingers. Ask yourself; though: is it worth it?
If People of Color have told you they don’t like being described a certain way, that it’s offensive, cliché, fetishizing…is it really that easy to brush off their words due to having just the perfect combination of parts cream and sugar to describe their skin when they, quite frankly, do not find it appropriate?
Your food-poc comparison isn’t cocoa or coffee, though. But it’s just good, so precise, you just have to use it. While I’m still narrowing my eyes a little, if something like this just has to be uttered, it’s best coming out of a character’s mouth vs. the narrator.
And if it’s spoken aloud, a bonus if they’re called out on it or an appropriate negative reaction ensues. Because more than likely, it still ain’t that good.
As for the exceptions.
Olive Skin
Olive-toned skin is a relatively “technical” and accepted term for skin tone. Though note it doesn’t = POC so don’t rely on the term heavily or solely as a means to indicate your character is of color.
Natural Plant-life
Depending on how it’s written, I personally don’t have a problem with certain edible natural nuts and plants in comparison to skin tone, such as almond, wheat, soybean…though it’s truly a matter of personal taste (pun unintended).
Spices
I’ve noticed that some People of Color are alright with herbs and spices descriptions of their skin tone, such as nutmeg, cumin, and cinnamon.
While this might be a matter of preference vs. absolute “no” I fear such usage could get potentially trope-y and fetishizing, especially if you compare the skin of a POC to food whose culture is known for using such herbs and spices.
Note I am simply highlighting that some People of Color who shun food descriptions don’t mind spice comparisons. I personally do not favor or recommend the use of spices to describe skin and view the same as describing one with food; it has a fetishistic angle.
Use caution and gather more than one opinion on whether or not it is offensive. This goes for any physical descriptions of POC you decide to use.
Source: https://writingwithcolor.tumblr.com/post/95955707903/skin-writing-with-color-has-received-several
Because most of his rep is problematic.
She could have been but we don't know for sure. I think it was just a dumb move.
The water was said to have "blasted" her, meaning that it moved outward towards her face. If she'd moved the shield in front of her face it would have gone around her or it would have fallen to the ground depending on how concentrated the blast was.