So WHat's Going on?
There's a personal project in the works from an English major student, a project that's to be filled with fantasy, some romance subplots, a protagonist exploring her newfound world and a boatload of representation. I'm legally required to only say this much, the rest is completely classified information I cannot share.
Representation? What do you mean exactly?
Exactly as you read it. Characters with different identities, races, ethnicities, sexualities and other aspects about them that have become part of people's regular lives. The plan is to have as many as possible and to be non-assumptive about it all, make it completely natural and niche in a way that only the particular minority it is for can recognise their representative character.
Isn't that a lot of work?
It is indeed! But I feel like it'll be worth it in the long run. The project is supposed to tackle a handful of different things over the course of three books, possibly even four if one of the plots end up extending. But it's also a lot of work in the sense that a ton of research is required. I am only a part of a couple of minority groups, so I will be able to write easily on those aspects of characteristics. But anything else? I will have to ask the right people and get their opinions, thoughts and to also do research to get a broad idea of things before eventually narrowing down.
Okay... That's cool and all, but... WHy do it at all?
A question for the ages! Why do a thing? Why do this? Why do that? Why should I buy a Nintendo Switch over a Nintendo Wii U? Why should I wear this purple dress and not this blue one? Why should I go to this concert of this favourite artist I've loved for many years over a new artist I just discovered? Why should I not represent people in different forms of media, let them know that they are seen and that they are valid and that everything that makes them themselves is wonderful, beautiful and unique? No one human is made equal, everyone has one thing about them that sets them apart from the masses. Why not highlight that trait and represent it in a way that makes them appreciate it?
Why does representation matter?
There are a couple of videos I'd love it if you could tune into. They're short, two of them are literal YouTube Shorts and another is four minutes long with an interview after 1:21. I want you to watch and see the reactions shown and to think about what you just saw.
youtube.com/shorts/kOz21FVjMZI?feature=share
Translation of what the little girl and her mom is saying is in the first comment. |
I watched the videos.
So now you know, right? You can see just how happy these kids are! Being represented in even a singular film was more than enough for these three kids. And this isn't all.
If you remember, back in February of 2018, Marvel's Black Panther had released and it slowly became I believe highest grossing movie of that year. The black community was overjoyed to be able to watch a full length superhero movie with a main character that looked like them. Hundreds of families went in their respective traditional outfits, took pictures in front of the posters and cardboard cutouts and had a wonderful and joyous time in the theatres and watching the film. The film itself even had beautiful cultures represented, so people who weren't a part of the culture could watch and experience the beauty of cultures they didn't know about. The happiness was infectious and watching them be happy was enough to make others happy as well.
Joy is something that is easily contagious. You just can't be upset when people are happy and expressing said happiness in a way that makes you want to celebrate as well.
There are slowly more and more movies and shows that show different kinds of wonderful representation. Two new Netflix shows that recently released, Heartstopper and First Kill, are both shows that represent the LGBTQ+ community, with Heartstopper being about a gay relationship and First Kill being about a lesbian relationship. Both shows were huge hits and had many people excited to watch them and gained high viewership ratings upon release. Seeing yourself being represented in a way that is just happy and wholesome is a heartwarming feeling. And that's what I intend to do.
With this project, I hope to be able to represent many communities in a way that matters and in a way that makes people seen and feel good about themselves. And it has to be done right too. No stereotypes, they're harmful and they're hurtful. Just pure and good representation in a way that matters and makes people feel seen and valid.
If you remember, back in February of 2018, Marvel's Black Panther had released and it slowly became I believe highest grossing movie of that year. The black community was overjoyed to be able to watch a full length superhero movie with a main character that looked like them. Hundreds of families went in their respective traditional outfits, took pictures in front of the posters and cardboard cutouts and had a wonderful and joyous time in the theatres and watching the film. The film itself even had beautiful cultures represented, so people who weren't a part of the culture could watch and experience the beauty of cultures they didn't know about. The happiness was infectious and watching them be happy was enough to make others happy as well.
Joy is something that is easily contagious. You just can't be upset when people are happy and expressing said happiness in a way that makes you want to celebrate as well.
There are slowly more and more movies and shows that show different kinds of wonderful representation. Two new Netflix shows that recently released, Heartstopper and First Kill, are both shows that represent the LGBTQ+ community, with Heartstopper being about a gay relationship and First Kill being about a lesbian relationship. Both shows were huge hits and had many people excited to watch them and gained high viewership ratings upon release. Seeing yourself being represented in a way that is just happy and wholesome is a heartwarming feeling. And that's what I intend to do.
With this project, I hope to be able to represent many communities in a way that matters and in a way that makes people seen and feel good about themselves. And it has to be done right too. No stereotypes, they're harmful and they're hurtful. Just pure and good representation in a way that matters and makes people feel seen and valid.