PREACH
So many manhwas and Mangas like this have such a huge problem with racial fetishism and orientalism. Like not only do they portray dark skinned people in a horrible light, they also make the ignorant choice to mesh a bunch of cultures together without even doing a small bit of research. Like I can go read a random manhwa that deals with this problem and find one character wearing a takshita and the other wearing a dastār. Or not even using actual cultural garments but stuff you'd see from a party city Aladdin, which isn't even accurate .
So true... and further consider that if someone is dark skinned in real life in these Asian countries, especially Korea, Japan and China, its not seen as an attractive trait and even shamed. How many kpop idols have undergone skin bleaching? How many Asian women want to look as pale as possible? Why do people associate dark skin with poverty and lower social class? This all stems from the highly regarded aesthetics of euro-centric beauty and social values of Asian countries such as colorism and xenophobia. It's so hypocritical and shameful that they are sexualising and fetishizing the very racial traits that are vilified. Plus... according to these manwhas, dark skin only works on attractive men.
SOOO TRUE im so sick of this trope
Speaking of colorism and xenophobia, when they aren't making the dark-skinned character a sexualized or animalistic male lead, they'll make the dark-skinned characters the villains. Like having all the robbers, bullies, etc. have dark skin with a large nose while the person who helps them has pale white skin, small nose, and more. It's such a common trope in manhwas it's insane
it's so refreshing to see people actually understanding the problem instead of just dismissing everything and saying that it's "not that deep", thank you.
Ong bruh ppl are just sex craving idiots with the desire for sexual activities in their boring lives that they have rotted. Many readers like this get annoying. It’s not ignorance, just people not giving a fuck. Smut would be so awesome if it is done properly. There’s the internet now, but Asia is so far behind in their social ideals and premises. This really highlights how dark to light skin is really thought about in Asia and by readers from different parts of the world accepting this.
Racial stereotyping and Fetishization is so common in these reads that I could have liked this if they could change it up a whole lot. Make the person orange or fucking green or blue. I get that so many kingdoms have hierarchies but maybe change up the stereotypes and who is where.
THIS!!!! THIIIISSSSSSSS!!!!!
I wanted to also highlight the use of the word "g*psy" to describe the Tomari people.
It's especially heinous in the context of the story since the word is considered a racial slur or perceived problematic by those who are ethnically Romani. It doesn't help that it was once "slang" for Egyptians even though their cultures are vastly different. The fact that the story pushes the harmful stereotypes of them being shady antagonists and being hunted down by the Kurkans when they're related by blood?????.
Looking at the war in the comment below, I wanted to yap a little concerning the main issue with this manwha. This manwha is quite similar to some other titles such as The Dragon King's Bride, When the Counts Illegitimate Daughter gets married and etc. The male lead is dark-skinned, masculine, of a high social standing, and most importantly, good in bed. Contrast this to the female leads who have pale skin, white hair, in weak positions and living generally shitty lives so that the male lead can save them.
If we use our critical thinking skills, we can see a clear theme here right? The main reason they are so attracted to each other is because of their physical characteristics, and how different they look. The man is wild, sexy, mysterious and barbaric, while the woman is pure, innocent, and submissive. These kinds of potrayals suggests that dark skinned individuals are inherently aggressive and primitive and white individuals are civilised and pure. I mean, just look at the title... Predatory marriage... really...? Who's the predator and who's the prey should be very clear.
The main problem with these brainless manwhas is that the race of the male lead is highlighted, emphasised and yes, fetishised. In this case, this is called racialised sexual fetishism, as certain characteristics of a race become target of sexual desire. Korean manwhas and Japanese mangas also have a problem with exoticisation. Why is this a problem if I'm just here to read smut and go about my merry way? It's objectifying people using their physical characteristics. It's depicting these characteristics as negative. It reinforces existing racial stereotypes and packages them up nicely in a brain dead smut for us to read. And judging from the brain rot comments its doing a good job.
A good example of a dark skinned male lead is a Stepmother's Marchen. The male leads skin colour is not highlighted as an attractive feature, but rather his personality and actions are the main feature. He is just like the other characters in his depth and personality.
Check the content you're consuming online. Don't get offended when others critique your Pulitzer prize winning smut lmao.