You know those movies about those little nerd boys who get with really hot girls, and those girls eventually learn to settle for a little nerd boy because he’s kinda nice sometimes? Propaganda.
You know those movies and shows where the little nerd girl has to change absolutely every aspect that makes her, her, starting by her appearance, so she can get the really hot boy, while when it’s the other way around the girl just settles with the nerd boy? Propaganda.
The character of Chief from Wonder Woman was played by Eugene Brave Rock who is from the Kanaii reserve in Southern Alberta. He took the inspiration for his character from real life WWI hero Mike Mountain Horse who is also from southern AB.
In the film Chief greets Diana in Blackfoot. Shortly after they have a conversation about how his people’s land was taken away by Steve’s people.
This is how you have First Nations representation: cast First Nations actors, draw from historical First Nations heroes and if they are going to speak a First Nations language cast someone who is part of that Nation!
He also personally created his whole look. Instead of the costume designer doing what they think a native man would wear. He included things that would have personal significance to his character, not because it looks “Indian” *side-eyes the lone ranger*
Not only did Eugene Brave Rock create Chief’s whole look, he did it because they asked him to. It was a case of, “you know this, please help us do it right.” He showed up on screen and I saw that hat and my heart was immediately happy because that is not a hat you see on Native people in Hollywood, that is a hat you see on actual Native people. That was my first inkling that Chief’s character wouldn’t hurt me. And then he introduces himself to Diana. And Patty is a gift because she didn’t caption it. And it made that line a gift to Native (especially Blackfoot) viewers, because it said, this is for you. I have a lot of feelings about both Napi and Eugene Brave Rock and they are all full of heart eyes.
I’ve seen a bunch of people in the notes concerned (like I was) of comparisons of members of the lgbt to dogs: but upon visiting their website I was reassured that they monitor a variety of content, including (but not limited to):
THIS IS A GOOD SITE
Yeah, this site is literally so people can check for content they don’t want to see…or in some cases content that would make them physically or mentally ill. (I have strobe issues myself…)
It’s highly useful for a lot of people.
I had no idea they warned for strobe effects, that’s awesome! They give me headaches and nausea.
They frequently add more categories, it seems – there have been more added just about every time I’ve visited the site. And they’re clearly open to suggestions, as the twitter exchange in the OP shows 😀
writer: this is one of my male characters! he cares about his guy friends and loves them deeply.
tumblr: oh! so he’s gay!
writer: uh…no, he’s attracted to women.
tumblr: ….so he’s bi!
writer: uhh…no…….he loves his guy friends but he’s not romantically/sexually attracted to them.
tumblr: ….so you’re homophobic.
writer:
Healthy male friendships are almost as rare in mainstream fiction as gay male relationships, and maybe more rare in fanfiction. Let men be wonderful friends without pushing a romantic relationship, just like men and women should be able to be wonderful friends without the pressure of a romantic relationship.
*AGGRESSIVELY SLAMS REBLOG UNTIL I DIE*
This is literally the reason men are so terrified of being open about loving each other platonically, because they don’t want people to assume they’re gay just because they can be supportive of their fucking friends
before you go talking about how representation isn’t important, I’d like to remind you that as a brazilian, every time I saw my people or my country in ANYTHING that wasn’t from brazil as a child I’d cling to it. that movie Rio? yep. that episode of the simpsons where they make fun of brazil? you bet. rick riordan puts a brazilian character in one of his books? great. and even when I watched coco for the first time I was filled with joy because even if it wasn’t set in my country specifically, seeing a latino boy as a protagonist in a pixar story was very close to home.
Moral of the story: Let black kids have black panther. Let Polynesian kids have moana. Let latino kids have miguel. Let girls have wonder woman and captain marvel. you already have so many white american boys, and that’s okay, you don’t need to erase these characters, but when all the main characters in the media fall into these categories then we have a problem.
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