Re: Restoration Teleportation
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:40 am
I get exactly what you're saying. Sad to say that stereotypes find their way often into comics- often in the form of visual shorthand, for instance, always showing an ndn character all fringed and feathered, or in the form of exaggerating one characteristic at the expense of others- as too often happens with openly religious characters.
A writer's ignorance can also show up in the things he or she gets wrong about different religions or cultures. I generally liked Marvel better when they awarded "no prizes," because they openly admitted having human failings and intelligent, sharp-eyed readers. I can also respect effort and willingness to do better, to at least try to treat characters as well-rounded individuals and respect their religion/culture/background. It's when it seems apparent to me that creators aren't even trying to show respect that I get offended. (For example, when Austen used Nightcrawler as a mouthpiece to bash Christianity.) I can forgive a writer who does not share the same religion or culture as the characters he or she writes for goofing up here and there, as long as I know he or she cares about doing right by the characters and the real life people they may represent.
As for what the indigenous arts community is up to, I'm glad you posted those links. I suppose you're also aware of Super Indian. Fun stuff, even the talking to animals bit.
Some other recommended reading that's a bit more on the thread's original topic would be The Science of the X-Men. It's got a great chapter on Nightcrawler and the possible nature of teleportation.
A writer's ignorance can also show up in the things he or she gets wrong about different religions or cultures. I generally liked Marvel better when they awarded "no prizes," because they openly admitted having human failings and intelligent, sharp-eyed readers. I can also respect effort and willingness to do better, to at least try to treat characters as well-rounded individuals and respect their religion/culture/background. It's when it seems apparent to me that creators aren't even trying to show respect that I get offended. (For example, when Austen used Nightcrawler as a mouthpiece to bash Christianity.) I can forgive a writer who does not share the same religion or culture as the characters he or she writes for goofing up here and there, as long as I know he or she cares about doing right by the characters and the real life people they may represent.
As for what the indigenous arts community is up to, I'm glad you posted those links. I suppose you're also aware of Super Indian. Fun stuff, even the talking to animals bit.
Some other recommended reading that's a bit more on the thread's original topic would be The Science of the X-Men. It's got a great chapter on Nightcrawler and the possible nature of teleportation.