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Change Is Coming To Fandom

On the issue of cultural appropriation, where all this discussion started, the central disconnect I am seeing in the genre is between "this is supposed to be fiction" and authentic cultural representation. Over the past few months, I have tried, both in person and in private correspondence, to call several people on misrepresentation of the "other". Speaking generally, when I tell these people that they are deeply misrepresenting certain groups, the reply is often "but it's supposed to be fiction/I'm taking artistic liberties." When I say, "Yes but it should still be thoughtful and authentic," they retaliate with "well if that's the standard that you demand, and we're not allowed to use our imaginations to make it up, how is anyone ever supposed to write anything that's not their own personal direct experience?" at which point it sometimes gets hostile and they tell me I'm "stifling their creativity" and "against creative expression" and "censoring" them.

The impact this misrepresentation has on the misrepresented groups was, of course, ignored, overlooked, negated, and dismissed. Dismissed is often not even a strong enough word, because in those instances, the message was that I had no right to be making such "demands" or criticism of their writing and their ideas, even when I was a member of the misrepresented group myself. The message was one of, "Who are you to tell me what I may or may not write?"

So it gets all derailed and becomes all about them and their right to write (and I guess publish) these stories laden with offensive stereotypes. Let me be clear- people may write whatever they want, in the privacy of their own homes. But publishing this stuff should not be an "entitlement" in the genre- and that's where I think we are. And when you publish it, you need to be held accountable for it. The status quo privileges the author's right to engage in stereotyping, cultural appropriation and misrepresentation over the reader's right to be authentically portrayed in SF/F and the community's right to have authentic diversity in the genre.MORE

(Bold by me)

See also:

Let Me Tell You a Story

Why do we need stories? In the greater human sense, not in the bestseller, ZOMG Alan Moore is awesome sense. Storytelling is an essential human activity, a paleolithic one, hardwired into us. It's the campfire and the tribal circle, the shaman and the nomad. And while you could argue many motivations for this ritual act, I want to focus on one. One especially applicable to folklore, fairy tales, mythology--and therefor to fantasy and science fiction.

Stories teach us how to survive. They tell us that our lives can be transcendent, that we can overcome almost anything, no matter how strange, that we can go into the black wood and come out again, that the witch can be burned up in her own oven, that we can find someone who fits a shoe, that the youngest, unloved child will find their way in the world, that those who suffer can become strong, can escape, can find their way into comfort and joy again. That there are secrets, and they are always worth discovering, that there are more and different creatures in the world than we can ever imagine, and not all want to eat us. Stories teach us how to win through, how to perservere, how to live.MORE

See also Racefail Mix: but don't talk about Revolution Which includes the absolutely hilarious and spot on:

Phil Ochs - Love Me, I'm A Liberal
For the white people who think opposing racism is great as long as they don't actually have to work too hard over it. ("I voted for Obama, so nothing I do can be racist" falls under this one.)

I go to the civil rights rallies
And I put down the old D.A.R.
I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
I hope every colored boy becomes a star
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
And I'm glad that the commies were thrown out
From the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
And I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
As long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberalMORE