Issues with Star Wars and Sci-Fi (Books)

Thump

Thump

Well-Known Member
I don't know if anybody else but me reads Star Wars Expanded Universe books.
I have been reading them for a few years now and I find them very entertaining.
It is cool to read about the adventures of some of my favorite characters, after the events in the movies.

Although, I have noticed a kind of irritating trend lately The writers of these books seem to think humans come in one color. I know a lot of people didn't like the prequel movies, but one think George Lucas got right was that he showed humans as extremely diverse. Within the three movies you saw people representing Black people, Asian people, Latino people, Maori people, Indian people, and White people. However in the novels every new human character is purposely described as white. Every character description goes something like this: Jedi X Blonde hair blue eyes, Sith X Red hair green eyes, random space pirate X pale skin Brown hair, etc.

The issue actually goes beyond Star Wars. It's a trend i have seen in Sci-Fi for quite awhile. These writers can think of all kinds of fantastic stories but they can't imagine that any people of color are involved.

I've always felt that science fiction more than all other genres has a responsibility to show diversity. Because Sci-Fi is about dreaming of fantastic possibilities, and to inspire people to imagine themselves in a fantastic adventure. But it becomes quite off putting and discouraging when you are faced with the all to real issue of racially monochromatic story telling.

I'm not the only person who thinks so. Martin Luther King famously said to Nichelle Nichols (Uhura from Star Trek) that he didn't want her to quit the show (Star Trek) because how important it is for young Black people to be inspired to see a black person in a role like that.

I don't think these creators are purposely racist. It's just that in this society, white people are kind of looked at as the 'default' people. I hope that if is brought to their (Sci-Fi writers/creators) attention they would take steps to add a little diversity to their worlds.

Well anyway.

End rant.
 
Thump said:
I don't know if anybody else but me reads Star Wars Expanded Universe books.
I have been reading them for a few years now and I find them very entertaining.
It is cool to read about the adventures of some of my favorite characters, after the events in the movies.

Although, I have noticed a kind of irritating trend lately The writers of these books seem to think humans come in one color. I know a lot of people didn't like the prequel movies, but one think George Lucas got right was that he showed humans as extremely diverse. Within the three movies you saw people representing Black people, Asian people, Latino people, Maori people, Indian people, and White people. However in the novels every new human character is purposely described as white. Every character description goes something like this: Jedi X Blonde hair blue eyes, Sith X Red hair green eyes, random space pirate X pale skin Brown hair, etc.

The issue actually goes beyond Star Wars. It's a trend i have seen in Sci-Fi for quite awhile. These writers can think of all kinds of fantastic stories but they can't imagine that any people of color are involved.

I've always felt that science fiction more than all other genres has a responsibility to show diversity. Because Sci-Fi is about dreaming of fantastic possibilities, and to inspire people to imagine themselves in a fantastic adventure. But it becomes quite off putting and discouraging when you are faced with the all to real issue of racially monochromatic story telling.

I'm not the only person who thinks so. Martin Luther King famously said to Nichelle Nichols (Uhura from Star Trek) that he didn't want her to quit the show (Star Trek) because how important it is for young Black people to be inspired to see a black person in a role like that.

I don't think these creators are purposely racist. It's just that in this society, white people are kind of looked at as the 'default' people. I hope that if is brought to their (Sci-Fi writers/creators) attention they would take steps to add a little diversity to their worlds.

Well anyway.

End rant.
Click to expand...

Agreed. And generally women get looked at as decorative accessories in sci-fi. This is all starting to change as more women and people of color move into the genre. And props too, to a few gay writers like Russell T Davies who brings in not only gay characters who are three dimensional people, but also people of color and women.
 
TreePixie said:
Agreed. And generally women get looked at as decorative accessories in sci-fi. This is all starting to change as more women and people of color move into the genre. And props too, to a few gay writers like Russell T Davies who brings in not only gay characters who are three dimensional people, but also people of color and women.
Click to expand...

hit it right on the head... the solution to every diversity issue that has happened, will happen or might happen. good post.
 
That's what I loved about The Matrix movie trilogy.

I don't think any major motion picture sci fi movie blockbuster had as many key, prominent roles played by Black actors.

Morpheus, the Oracle, etc. It was refreshing to see.
 
TreePixie said:
Agreed. And generally women get looked at as decorative accessories in sci-fi. This is all starting to change as more women and people of color move into the genre. And props too, to a few gay writers like Russell T Davies who brings in not only gay characters who are three dimensional people, but also people of color and women.
Click to expand...

andreboba said:
That's what I loved about The Matrix movie trilogy.

I don't think any major motion picture sci fi movie blockbuster had as many key, prominent roles played by Black actors.

Morpheus, the Oracle, etc. It was refreshing to see.
Click to expand...

You all are spot on. Do you know that Will Smith was originally chosen to play Neo in the Matrix movie but, turned the role down? It's no big deal because I think Keanu Reeves fit that role well but, at least they thought about it.

Torchwood - one of my favorite si-fi series as some of you know - has a bi-sexual character in Capt. Jack Harness and, this next season they will have a BM team-member, which is cool.

Another thing I don't like is, if they do have a BM character I don't usually like how they are portrayed but, that's a whole other subject. Tealc on the Stargate series is the exception.
 
Well you need to be practical people. The vast majority of sci fi fans are typically straight white males of all ages. So they are going to put characters in them that appeal to the straight white males. Just like ina Madea movie the base audience is black women. So they are going to have characters and themes to appeal to black women. Its quite simple. And as far as the whole gay thing goes. I think gays tend to go off and do their own thing in fiction and dont tend to worry too much about the straight people. I mean there are whole seperate gay towns and districts in cities. And Im no homophobe or anything but when I pick up a book I am mainly looking to read about people that are mostly like me! (by that I mean straight!) I dont see myself reading a book about some gay dude and cheering him on. That kind of thing just doesnt compute well on my hard drive.

And why does gay have to be associated with minority? Gay is an abnormality, that doenst mean we should discriminate against them now, but a straight person whos a racial minority is the NORM in the society gays as a group are NOT NORMAL and exist outside of the NORMAL box in society because of their gay nature.

And again I have nothing against the gays I'll respect them as long as they respect me.
 
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