Two things:

[thebitterguy]

A) No music video from the '90s should be on a channel called MuchMoreRetro

B) One of The National Post's discarded writers did a piece (a piece of what?) in yesterday's Sunday Star about coloured folk in comics. Now, as an almost white person (the kind airport security likes to gently caress), I have my own viewpoints on this, but two thoughts came to me after reading this piece (and Stuard Immonen's analysis).

First off, why would an ex-Postie suddenly care about racial and women's issues? I mean, is it guilt? A bet? Did he just really, really want to get an article in for black history month? Or does he really, sincerely, think the decline of the comics industry can be traced to it's lack of minority and female representation?

Secondly, why is this in Science and Technology?

But, in any case, I bring it to you, the reading public.

[Poll #949544]

Comments

[uhlrik.livejournal.com]

I figure that he'll care about whatever he has to in order to keep getting printed. ;)

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

This is close to my thoughts, too -- professional writers/journalists are like actors. They do the job they're paid to do, and hew to the editorial line they're paid to. Or they don't get paid.

Not all actors who play straight are straight, and not all who play gay are gay.

I assume that there are lots of writers who write right who are, in fact, left; and vice-versa.

[shara.livejournal.com]

Maybe he's a discarded writer because he failed to toe the line? :)

[athelind.livejournal.com]

I'm not all that familiar with the National Post, and I only just skimmed the article (since I'm short on time this morning), but one thing that struck me in my quick perusal was the general tone: the matter of Superheroes of Color wasn't addressed as an issue of social justice or believable writing, but as a Way To Make A Buck (or a Loonie).

Dealing with race not as a matter of inclusiveness, but as a matter of untapped market -- to me, THAT smacks of racism. "Hey, let's start paying attention to these people now that our sales are flagging!"

That said, I don't think that the recent addition of an Asian Atom, a Black Firestorm, and a Hispanic Blue Beetle are attempts to target ethnic markets. I think it's the opposite -- the years of "whitewashing" were economically-driven, because the publishers believed that non-white heroes Wouldn't Sell.

More later, and elsewhere.

[thebitterguy]

Cool, let me know when you've done that piece.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

The annoying thing is that all three of those DC titles you mention are Fun Reads to me right now...and probably not getting the level of attention they ought to be getting from the rest of the audience.

[gurudata.livejournal.com]

Hiho,

A) No music video from the '90s should be on a channel called MuchMoreRetro

A song from 1990 is now about SEVENTEEN years old... I'm just sayin'...

Cu,
Andrew

[thebitterguy]

Hush, math boy.

[racing-girl.livejournal.com]

stop living in denial my friend. the 90's are indeed over and we are now in the later part of the next decade... feeling old yet?? I am!

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

Secondly, why is this in Science and Technology?

It was printed in the ideas section of the paper which is filed under science and tech on the website, which I suppose makes it a slightly less WTF place for it to turn up.

As for the thesis, I think the writer inadvertently hits the nail on the head where he writes (or quotes, I can't recall) that comics are written almost exclusively by fanboys for the fanboy audience - hence the lack of diversity. I don't think the lack of diversity (whether you believe it to be perceived or real - FWIW, I think it's a real problem) is not the cause of the shrinkage in the market but rather a symptom of the shrinkage. Mainstream publishers (especially) keep going back to tap that middle class (Judeo-Christian) white guy well which is the bedrock of their market and as the market shrinks, more and more comics are marketed directly at that audience with the unintentioned effect of turning off readers who either are looking for more diverse and/or nuanced stories or are not part of that audience.

Where was Immonen's commmentary, btw? I'd like to read that.

[thebitterguy]

It's on his website. http://www.immonen.ca/news/

There's an LJ feed for it too.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Anything more than five years old is "retro" to the teenagers who dominate popular music. I feel your pain, if it's any consolation.

[thebitterguy]

Damn kids these days.

[umario.livejournal.com]

I've had acquaintances who've interned at the National Post, and they've told me that it's not the writers, it's the editors that are the problem. The writers are fairly standard journalist fare, with the slight (or more) liberal bias that the average journalist has. It's the eds that trump them. So I actually give the writers at the Post some slack. I doubt that they're all racist or unconcerned about racial issues (or other important issues, such as climate change - see the work that Mike DeSouza does (http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=b64bf2df-2e85-43e3-84f9-35eafda70b0c&k=51309)). The problem lies with those that sign their cheques...

[thebitterguy]

Once someone's sold their soul, it's hard to take their hallelujahs seriously.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

I'm almost inclined to believe it...and I know of one guy who's getting away with not being trumped thus far, so far as I can tell. Not gonna name names as I don't want to mess up his meal ticket.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Good question about the filing of the article.

[racing-girl.livejournal.com]

The Star is crap anyway. They print crap just to get a rise out of people not because they necessarily believe it... realy just total crap... and yet I have it delivered to my house every bloody Saturday. I think it's more habit then anything. I find the Globe too pretentious (I came to THAT realization quickly when they had an insert titled "The Best Private Schools In Canada" or something along those lines). The Post is ... well... Too National (no pun intended) and the Sun is a big ad in newspaper print (and It's not like the content has a lot of meat). That being said, I hate the Star LESS then the others... ok... I'm done now.