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As taken from The Wolf's Lair: Speculative Fiction, Multiculturalism, And An Online Free For All! Here's his post: So, a friend links me to an index of links to an ongoing discussion of multiculturalism in speculative fiction/sf&f. Taking a break between writing a story and cramming for a French test, I tell myself, what the hell, it might be an interesting read. Famous last words. :PThere goes my productivity for the rest of the night.The Index Whatever You're Doing, You're Doing it Wrong.It begins with a blog post by Elizabeth Bear about "Writing The Other". Her initial article mutates into a look at multiculturalism in SF&F (which is dominated by the Western/White Science Fiction/Fantasy Megatext)This of course stirs up the hornets nest, infuriating feminists and post-colonials alike. I haven't even finished reading the other articles yet, but there was one reply up there by an Indian that hits in the gut, because in a way, it could be argued that the same thing has happened here in the Philippines (I Didn't Dream of Dragons.). Another one that I liked tackles what the blogger considers racist bias in SF&F, bringing up examples like Andromeda's Tyr Anasazi and Stargate's Teal'c and how minorities become bit characters saddled onto white heroes (An Open Letter to Elizabeth Bear).There's a lot more I still haven't read, and the fascinating thing for me is that this sucker is still ongoing, with a few of these posts still hot off the keyboards. If you stalk the blogosphere, love SF&F and enjoy all the conondrums of cultural criticism and postcolonial eck-eck, you might want to keep your sights trained on these. Heck, you might even want to dive in yourself and have your say. (I for one am too sleepy to cook up a coherent comment on these tonight) Enjoy.There goes my productivity for the rest of the bloody weekend, I guess. When will I ever get Mother of Monsters written up for CW 198? EDIT: Much thanks to thebumpercar for the links.What's being discussed might strike a nerve with some of you.  | I loved that article by Deepa D. It said something that resonates within me so viscerally (and painfully, if I'm honest). Because I have felt like that about our own history but I can only hope to be able to articulate myself in such a powerful way. |
 | Thanks for the link! I resisted the urge to dive too deep into the articles (since I wanted to get at least *some* writing done that day) but it really was very educational (and I've been spreading the word about it where I can).
It's strange though - I've experienced discrimination a few times personally, but since I have yet to read any portrayal of a Filipino in Fantasy/Sci-Fi (I don't really watch the TV shows where the maid-stereotype tends to emerge) I really didn't give it much thought. |
 | @zenmachiavelli: Hey, doesn't this remind you of this large discussion that erupted in 2007? Not exactly the same thing, but some issues overlap. |
| @anitero: Hi! The issue, I believe, is not only restricted to speculative fiction, but to fiction in general. If you're not Catholic, how would you write a Catholic character? You run the risk of making a stereotype (which may be a subjective judgement, depending on the reader). I think the majority of Pinoys are Christian, so how would a Pinoy write in a Taoist character, if he or she decides to put in such a character in his or her story? Pinoys are stereotyped, too, as are all races. It really is interesting to read the arguments being raised in those links, and the challenge for writers remains: to come up with characters that are believable. Suddenly, the job seems tougher.
I think all of us have been on the receiving end of discrimination, or at the very least, been the victims of preconceived notions. "Oh, that person's a lawyer! (read: must be careful, he'll twist and manipulate the meaning of what I say. Sorry Pao, couldn't resist using your profession here as an example). But even that can be the seed of a story, and a challenge to write something fresh. It also makes us more discerning of the characters we read about. |
| @Kenneth: Ahaha, a little, yes. But also: If you're not Catholic, how would you write a Catholic character? You run the risk of making a stereotype (which may be a subjective judgement, depending on the reader). I think the majority of Pinoys are Christian, so how would a Pinoy write in a Taoist character, if he or she decides to put in such a character in his or her story?I agree with you on these points but we should also remember that not all appropriations are created equal. If I'm a Catholic-Filipino writer who tries to write about American-Protestants without doing any research and characterize them as nothing but stupid bible-thumping rednecks, I would be ignorant and offensive. But if a hypothetical American writes about Filipinos and characterize them as barely-clothed savages (or kidnap-happy jihadists, or domestic helpers, or prostitutes), well. He/she would be ignorant and offensive on top off contributing to a whole systematic cultural tradition of portraying us as less than cultured and evolved, much like what happened in the human zoos at St. Louis' World Fair. It would be harmful and destructive to a culture, ours. This was, after all, entire justification of colonization--"The white man's burden" of civilizing the savages. Not to say these kinds of characters can't be written responsibly, but I'll sure as heck raise hell pointing out gross stereotypes. But I guess that makes me "too politically correct." Sigh. What I'm trying to say in a very convoluted way, the power matters a lot. Especially in literature, something that seems to be so benevolent. It matters a lot when good characters always seem white, especially if you're a young kid reading books and wanting something to aspire to. At seven, I wanted to be like the kids of Sweet Valley High. Who were all white and blonde. I wonder if that had any lasting effects on me? |
| @zenmachiavelli: True, true! The power of the market is so strong, which contributes to the pervasive power of the culture of that market. If you (and I) had to go through that, I'm sure you can imagine what today's readers/film viewers, etc. are going through. Tough, eh? And yet, can you make anyone write or read about what they don't want to write about? I can't. In other words, if someone wants to read Sweet Valley High, or write about blonde, blue-eyed warrior hero types fighting against dragons and monsters of European mythological origin, they have that right. The power of the market. So for those who are aware, like you, this results in some kind of inner conflict. I kinda' remember a story that goes something like this: Charlson Ong more than a decade ago sent in a novel about Fil-Chi's abroad. They liked it, but they didn't take it in, 'coz they didn't know where to place it. Well, he found a place for it anyway here in the RP, where people are reading him, happily. I suppose we play with the cards we're dealt with and work from there, somehow trying to find how and where to go. |
| Just another aside. I liked Fledgling's response to one of the other commenters. It sums up succinctly why globalization as it stands right now is unequal: "I don't know the cultures as well as I do my own."
I, on the other hand, am obliged to know your culture. Thanks.And yes, Kenneth, the only thing we can do is speak up, then push and push some more to make the world a little better. And someday perhaps our children can read stories where people are not pigeonholed by the color of their skin (or ethinicity or creed) but by the content of their character. Just because these things are hard doesn't excuse as for not being part of the solution. :) Which is also to say it is never just fiction, especially when people's hopes and dreams are tied up to the stories we tell. |
| @zenmachiavelli: Agree! Agree! |
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