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laurareads87's review
informative
medium-paced
4.0
A solid essay by one of my absolute favourite fantasy authors.
In this essay, Clark takes up the work of Edward Said - specifically his book <i>Orientalism</i> - as a framework to analyze the fantasy genre (by way of specific examples - ex. Tolkein, Martin) and its propensity for othering, exotifying, silencing, objectifying, and villianizing racialized 'others.' I think this would ideally be read with some degree of background familiarity with Said, as Clark doesn't precisely follow Said and it wouldn't necessarily be clear to an unfamiliar reader where the differences in their ideas lie, but understanding Orientalism is not a prerequisite for comprehending this essay's arguments by any means. Clark's suggestions for doing better as fantasy authors make good sense and feel like a generous way to conclude.
In this essay, Clark takes up the work of Edward Said - specifically his book <i>Orientalism</i> - as a framework to analyze the fantasy genre (by way of specific examples - ex. Tolkein, Martin) and its propensity for othering, exotifying, silencing, objectifying, and villianizing racialized 'others.' I think this would ideally be read with some degree of background familiarity with Said, as Clark doesn't precisely follow Said and it wouldn't necessarily be clear to an unfamiliar reader where the differences in their ideas lie, but understanding Orientalism is not a prerequisite for comprehending this essay's arguments by any means. Clark's suggestions for doing better as fantasy authors make good sense and feel like a generous way to conclude.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, and Xenophobia
riotsquirrrl's review
4.0
This essay is geared towards writers and people who are new to thinking about social justice and its intersection with SFF. It's also for fans of Game of Thrones. I think this is a useful jumping off point and it provides a lot of concrete actions for writers to write better marginalized people.
Clark does a good job of pointing out the fundamental problem: western writers have long relied on stereotypes and centering narratives around white people and in the process, have dehumanized large numbers of people in order to make the West look better. The author includes examples from popular SFF media such as Lord of the Rings, the Wheel of Time, and both the book series and the media adaptation of Game of Thrones. He also includes a number of strategies for how media consumers might recognize othering in SFF and gives concrete advice for how authors might work to de-center Western tropes and give agency to marginalized characters.
Having read Clark's works of fiction published since this piece, I definitely think that he puts these ideas to use in his own fiction.
I took one star off because while this is a good essay, it wasn't a helpful essay for me as I am neither a writer nor new to thinking about social justice in SFF, and I was already not a fan of Game of Thrones for all the reasons the author outlines and more.
Clark does a good job of pointing out the fundamental problem: western writers have long relied on stereotypes and centering narratives around white people and in the process, have dehumanized large numbers of people in order to make the West look better. The author includes examples from popular SFF media such as Lord of the Rings, the Wheel of Time, and both the book series and the media adaptation of Game of Thrones. He also includes a number of strategies for how media consumers might recognize othering in SFF and gives concrete advice for how authors might work to de-center Western tropes and give agency to marginalized characters.
Having read Clark's works of fiction published since this piece, I definitely think that he puts these ideas to use in his own fiction.
I took one star off because while this is a good essay, it wasn't a helpful essay for me as I am neither a writer nor new to thinking about social justice in SFF, and I was already not a fan of Game of Thrones for all the reasons the author outlines and more.
iam's review
5.0
Great read about the history and prevalence of Othering in Fantasy popculture, from Tolkien to Wheel of Time to Game of Thrones and more. Plus it's free: here's part 1, here's part 2 and here's part 3.
ostrava's review
5.0
How is it that I didn't know of this essay-series up until now? I've been lucky to have found it online, otherwise I don't know if I would have bothered as regretful as that may sound. The articles themselves are very short, so it's a quick read that I would highly recommend if you have 10-15 minutes to spare.
Anyway, it's always great to read something which challenges your view of the world. I was aware of the problems surrounding the orientalist caricatures often found in speculative fiction, even if, granted, I am not well versed in its issues. I find the tone to be surprisingly calm too, so I don't think anyone can complain about the author's writing either. He works on a nuance much needed for dialogue and offers both bad and good examples of portrayals of PoC in the fantasy genre. Examples of some of the most popular fantasies are brought up, and they're mostly correct, even if they don't quite reject its otherwise successful ideas. Again, nuance. But self-awareness and a critical mind too, it's about having a better genre after all, not apologizing.
I was aware of the sometimes regretful orientalist elements in A Song of Ice and Fire, even if I don't believe they were done with bad intentions by Martin (although Essos has always been kind of a mess anyway). Bravoos for example is great, little depictions of culture here and there are not terribly realistic, but not problematic. The Dothraki are a shame though, as are the Ghiscari. I slightly disagree on Daenerys falling into the white savior trope, as I always perceived it as a deconstruction and rejection of the trope instead. It does depend on how things turn out in the last installments of the series, that is of course, if they ever come out. As for The Lord of The Rings and The Wheel of Time, I don't have much to say. In the case of the former, because of my overall lack of background on the discussion of race in the Middle Earth universe, in the latter, because I've honestly not read the work. I will keep the examples made in mind though.
In any case, a great take on the genre. And I am thankful for the examples of good depictions of PoC cultures made at the end, perhaps I should check them out some time in the future.
Anyway, it's always great to read something which challenges your view of the world. I was aware of the problems surrounding the orientalist caricatures often found in speculative fiction, even if, granted, I am not well versed in its issues. I find the tone to be surprisingly calm too, so I don't think anyone can complain about the author's writing either. He works on a nuance much needed for dialogue and offers both bad and good examples of portrayals of PoC in the fantasy genre. Examples of some of the most popular fantasies are brought up, and they're mostly correct, even if they don't quite reject its otherwise successful ideas. Again, nuance. But self-awareness and a critical mind too, it's about having a better genre after all, not apologizing.
I was aware of the sometimes regretful orientalist elements in A Song of Ice and Fire, even if I don't believe they were done with bad intentions by Martin (although Essos has always been kind of a mess anyway). Bravoos for example is great, little depictions of culture here and there are not terribly realistic, but not problematic. The Dothraki are a shame though, as are the Ghiscari. I slightly disagree on Daenerys falling into the white savior trope, as I always perceived it as a deconstruction and rejection of the trope instead. It does depend on how things turn out in the last installments of the series, that is of course, if they ever come out. As for The Lord of The Rings and The Wheel of Time, I don't have much to say. In the case of the former, because of my overall lack of background on the discussion of race in the Middle Earth universe, in the latter, because I've honestly not read the work. I will keep the examples made in mind though.
In any case, a great take on the genre. And I am thankful for the examples of good depictions of PoC cultures made at the end, perhaps I should check them out some time in the future.
miwsher's review
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
2.75
I found the essay very interesting, and globally agree with its thesis, but I found the analysis a bit superficial and would have liked it to go further, hence the 2.75 starts.