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theheartisanarrow's review
4.5
4.5*/ you can tell the immense amount of passion and expertise ebony elizabeth thomas brings to the table when discussing the dark fantastic as a phenomenon as well as its traces in series such as the hunger games, bbc's merlin, hp and the vampire diaries. (those chapters can be read without having read/watched the works in question, but do read better if you have.)
a must read if you're a fan of any of these and/or an avid writer or consumer of speculative fiction, 'the dark fantastic' is interesting, informative, well-balanced between academic text and personal anecdotes and includes fandom as a significant factor in the equation, which i feel like not enough researchers do. (in fact i feel the only reason it took me a wholeass year to get through was bc i originally planned to use it for uni.)
if i were to nitpick i'd say you can tell that this is a few years old now, as the lin-manuel miranda and jkr references made me cringe a bit, but that also means i would be interested to hear the author's perspective on race in media and fandoms post 2020 black lives matter, her updated views on jkr/the hp franchise as well as some media that's come out since including their reception and online discussion (rings of power, percy jackson, the list goes on)
a must read if you're a fan of any of these and/or an avid writer or consumer of speculative fiction, 'the dark fantastic' is interesting, informative, well-balanced between academic text and personal anecdotes and includes fandom as a significant factor in the equation, which i feel like not enough researchers do. (in fact i feel the only reason it took me a wholeass year to get through was bc i originally planned to use it for uni.)
if i were to nitpick i'd say you can tell that this is a few years old now, as the lin-manuel miranda and jkr references made me cringe a bit, but that also means i would be interested to hear the author's perspective on race in media and fandoms post 2020 black lives matter, her updated views on jkr/the hp franchise as well as some media that's come out since including their reception and online discussion (rings of power, percy jackson, the list goes on)
chirson's review
4.0
I read this book courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for a review.
I am not entirely sure that I found each example used by Thomas to advance her argument equally persuasive: for instance, is Gwen the best choice for who/what haunts Merlin (and if not, just acknowledge it and make your point regardless)? In addition, I didn't really enjoy the chapter on Harry Potter, which felt incomplete and cut short while still containing what seemed to me to be a too long and somewhat misleading preamble concerning the author's own fandom life (I was in HP fandom for part of the period described by the Author and it was far larger and fragmented than she seems to present it; furthermore, many BNFs fell from grace quickly and painfully for a variety of offences). But that does not detract from the great points of her central premise concerning the role of the Black (girl) character in the Dark Fantastic Cycle. I was on my Kindle when my 12 yo Nibling asked me what I was reading.
"It's a book about how Black characters are represented in films and TV shows," I simplified.
"Oh, they die first," Nibling replied, and I am *not* making this up.
I found Thomas's analysis captivating and lucid, and thought-provoking, and a supremely enjoyable read as a piece of media criticism. I hope it will spark many debates and arguments.
I am not entirely sure that I found each example used by Thomas to advance her argument equally persuasive: for instance, is Gwen the best choice for who/what haunts Merlin (and if not, just acknowledge it and make your point regardless)? In addition, I didn't really enjoy the chapter on Harry Potter, which felt incomplete and cut short while still containing what seemed to me to be a too long and somewhat misleading preamble concerning the author's own fandom life (I was in HP fandom for part of the period described by the Author and it was far larger and fragmented than she seems to present it; furthermore, many BNFs fell from grace quickly and painfully for a variety of offences). But that does not detract from the great points of her central premise concerning the role of the Black (girl) character in the Dark Fantastic Cycle. I was on my Kindle when my 12 yo Nibling asked me what I was reading.
"It's a book about how Black characters are represented in films and TV shows," I simplified.
"Oh, they die first," Nibling replied, and I am *not* making this up.
I found Thomas's analysis captivating and lucid, and thought-provoking, and a supremely enjoyable read as a piece of media criticism. I hope it will spark many debates and arguments.
monikaben's review
4.0
Important read on represantion of black people in fantasy, solid points were made. I especially liked the analysis of Rue in Hunger Games beign just a plot device for the protagonist's character development.
The only reason I don't consider this a 5 star read is because it's very academic, making it hard to take in the insights. I read mostly non-fic and usually don't even see it when people call a book too academic but this one is too much even for me.
The only reason I don't consider this a 5 star read is because it's very academic, making it hard to take in the insights. I read mostly non-fic and usually don't even see it when people call a book too academic but this one is too much even for me.
crystal_reading's review
5.0
Review copy via Netgalley.
Full review at Rich in Color http://richincolor.com/2019/05/spotlight-on-dr-ebony-elizabeth-thomas/
Full review at Rich in Color http://richincolor.com/2019/05/spotlight-on-dr-ebony-elizabeth-thomas/
clockworkp's review
4.0
3.5
Está muy bien documentado y tiene puntos muy interesantes sobre la cultura popular y la raza.
Sin embargo es totalmente un texto académico y fue demasiado rebuscado para mí. No creo que sea para que todos los públicos lo entiendan, pero era lo que yo esperaba de la lectura. Es demasiado ideológico y complejo. Siendo sincera, si no creyera que el tema es MUY importante le daría 3 estrellas.
Está muy bien documentado y tiene puntos muy interesantes sobre la cultura popular y la raza.
Sin embargo es totalmente un texto académico y fue demasiado rebuscado para mí. No creo que sea para que todos los públicos lo entiendan, pero era lo que yo esperaba de la lectura. Es demasiado ideológico y complejo. Siendo sincera, si no creyera que el tema es MUY importante le daría 3 estrellas.
toy_masterpiece's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
⭐🎧Audiobook Listener🎧⭐
This has really changed the way I want to consume media.
As a Black woman who has spent a lot of time in the fanfiction arena, it was so fun to read this take on that community from an the academic perspective of another Black woman who has also spent a lot of time in the fanfiction arena.
Ebony Elizabeth Thomas takes you back in time to the height of popularity of each of the franchises (Hunger Games, Merlin, The Vampire Diaries) and provides real sources for the way people reacted to the Black women in each. She analyzes them and really brings to light how a lack of diversity in the media, especially children's media, is dangerous.
The reason I say that this book has change how I want to consume media is that I have to be intentional about seeing people like me in that media. Even as I am older, representation is important in all stages of life and it is alienating when I realize the salient reason that I consistently don't relate to my IRL community or the characters in the media I consume is a difference in my race and my upbringing. While stories like the Vampire Diaries and Merlin or, more currently, Bridgerton and Percy Jackson, are favorites of mine, I also owe it to myself to consume media in which people who look like me (Black, woman, queer, disabled, etc.) are the main characters.
This book, then, marks my first foray into that mission.
This has really changed the way I want to consume media.
As a Black woman who has spent a lot of time in the fanfiction arena, it was so fun to read this take on that community from an the academic perspective of another Black woman who has also spent a lot of time in the fanfiction arena.
Ebony Elizabeth Thomas takes you back in time to the height of popularity of each of the franchises (Hunger Games, Merlin, The Vampire Diaries) and provides real sources for the way people reacted to the Black women in each. She analyzes them and really brings to light how a lack of diversity in the media, especially children's media, is dangerous.
The reason I say that this book has change how I want to consume media is that I have to be intentional about seeing people like me in that media. Even as I am older, representation is important in all stages of life and it is alienating when I realize the salient reason that I consistently don't relate to my IRL community or the characters in the media I consume is a difference in my race and my upbringing. While stories like the Vampire Diaries and Merlin or, more currently, Bridgerton and Percy Jackson, are favorites of mine, I also owe it to myself to consume media in which people who look like me (Black, woman, queer, disabled, etc.) are the main characters.
This book, then, marks my first foray into that mission.