The Problem with Animation and LGBT “Representation”
I wrote an entire ass essay about this as an ‘Experience’. I’m reposting a shortened version of it here cause the other one is pretty lengthy. If you’d like to read the full-length version it’s here
http://www.mangago.me/thing/about/164671/We’ll start this off with the lesson of the day, which would be about Queer Baiting.
“But what’s Queer Baiting?”
☆ Why, I’m glad you asked. Queer Baiting is a shitty marketing tactic used by authors and animators to attract a queer audience. They do this by creating sexual and/or romantic tension between two same-sex characters, however these relationships are never evolved or expanded on. Sometimes, it was never going to be canon in the first place.
“But why is that problematic? They’re still representing same-sex couples in a way”
Excellent question. And to that I have to say, a character switching teams at the end of a series with absolutely zero development with that person is not representation and is not being ‘woke’. I’m looking at you, Legend of Korra.
I mean, just look at shows like Yuri!! On Ice, Love Stage!, Hibike! Euphonium, Free!!! and Super Lovers, (starting to notice a trend here) all of these were huge cluster fucks with nothing but queer baiting and shallow plots. Homoerotic relationships were hinted and its implied that characters in these shows have feelings for one another or there’s heavy same-sex sexual tension present. Only for nothing to fucking happen.
☆ Let’s take a look at shows like Craig of the Creek, Stuck In the Middle and Cowboy Bebop. What makes these shows examples of good representation in media? The answer is simple. Nobody cares that Harley and the Diaz’s are Hispanic because they’re chaotic and persevering. Nobody cares that Craig is black because he’s fun and adventurous and nobody cares that Faye Valentine is a woman, because she’s fucking badass.
☆ Having a characters main personality trait be their gender, race and sexuality and practically having that character walk around and say “hey! Look at me! I’m gay!” Or “I’m black” or “I’m a woman!” Makes them seem like less of a person and more of a spectacle.
Characters shouldn’t be defined by their race gender and sexuality. It’s their morals and their personality that should determine whether they’re a good character or not.
I thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
