Jan 17, 2019

Diversity vs Tokenism... Why is it so hard to understand?

Diversity is a "hot topic" right now. We see people "praising it" whenever a reboot is made to justify racial, or any physical changes on characters.
For example: Making Jimmy Olsen black is "Diversity". Hell, no!!  That's lazy racebending to appeal to slacktivists.
Simon Baz, the Muslim Green Lantern is Diversity.
John Stewart, the African American Green Lantern is Diversity.
Jessica Cruz is Diversity
Kyle Rayner is Diversity...
They ADDED to their mythos... although some were meant as a replacement, but the GL corps can expand and accept multiple members, especially on a problematoc sector like 2814.
Diversity is not switching races or removing characters  because "they are the wrong race". Diversity is MUCH MORE than checking out boxes from a checklist. When you're too busy filling out checklists, that's Tokenism.
Most modern shows that toot their progressive horn about diversity are Tokenists. Hell, I could say that "problematic 80s cartoons made to sell toys" are more diverse, than say... Noelle Stevenson's pop cultural appropriations of She-Ra.
Yes, you heard correctly... or read, keep forgetting that it's written word.

That's right, GI Joe is diverse as hell.  This was greatly in part by Larry Hama, who pretty much made the entire 80s GI Joe roster and created backgrounds for pretty much all the characters. Even if the character designs by Hasbro looked like Village People rejects at times. That is because they went BEYOND simply the physical aspect or the "social justice checkbox".
As much as I disagree with Momoa playing Aquaman (he played The Momoa Merman) the movie Justified Momoa as Aquaman by having him being Jango Fett's son. Meanwhile Orm looked more like Classic Aquaman.  It makes sense within the rules of said universe.
When your characters have little personality like say: the fat lesbian, or the black lesbian, you have tokens.
Yes, I am taking jabs at fake She-Ra since it was touted super mega Progressive and all we got were tokens. Maaaayyybe they'll flesh them out in Season two, but based on season one... not likely. Seriously, you have the Official interracial homosexual couple and you reduce them to background props!?

A Rabbi, a Priest and an Atheist are more diverse than the Token array most "social justice slacktivists" claim to want.

What's the better character:
- a warrior surrounded by superhuman warriors that have magical powers beyond mere mortals. In order to compensate for his lack of superhuman abilities, he augments his arsenal with some high tech equipment, not to mention skills in prestidigitation, escapism, basic hypnotic suggestion. He also has keen understanding of verbal and non verbal communication , which he uses to defuse tense situations via humor or diplomacy.

-Black gay best friend, bit of a nerd and may tinker with stuff.

Both describe Tyrone, the fake Bow. One hypes the character, selling his abilities and how in a weird way he is the heart (no pun intended) of the Rebellion. The other points out all the checkboxes he can fill.

"Muh diversity" is not a reason with weight to change a character.  Especially  if that literally changes ALL of the character's traits.  You need to sell the characters, make it seem like some thought was put into the characters when "modifying them" to a modern audience. If your "diversity" is only skin deep or what kind of gender they are attracted to, then all you have is a token.

But if for some reason you complain about wishy washy race changes from Tokenism,  you are a bigot.
Does not compute... wanting characters from different walks of life ,with different mentalities, and different cultures is somehow bigoted!? Ghostbusters 2016 was exactly the same thing they did all these changes for "muh diversity" yet everything stayed the same: three white women and a black stereotype... OK that was worse than the original. You get the idea. If you criticize the movie you were a bigot...  in any case for the perennially offended people who love to toot their Progressive horn: Tokenism bad diversity Beyond skin color or sexual orientation is GOOD. Don't accept tokens, accept well-rounded characters that happen to be a certain minority but don't accept tokens, please!

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