Minorities In Comics and Related Media

[Froggy]

I didn't think of literal myths. I thought of cultural myths such as do Arabs really commit more crime. Anyways, my argument relies on diversity shouldn't be included if the writers don't care about it.

my bad, your response kinda made me think you were taking the word myth literally


Well thats their option but it can hurt them and the industry in the long run

[Double 0]

Well thats their option but it can hurt them and the industry in the long run

The only reason why they "care" now is because it hurt the industry enough for them to.

[Smoov-E]

Didn't Yella end up directing Pornos in the 90's(and Snoop hosted a Porno like he was a smutty Rod Serling)?

There really needs to be a documentary made about this era in hip hop. Because a lot of the facts on who did what when got lost in translation.

Not everybody was following the Rap media like that.

And a lot of this stuff is frigging hysterical.

Yella did the music for them too

Yeah it's crazy how both him and Snoop did it long before Wesley Pipes and Brian Pumper tried to combine the two


There's a lot of stuff to talk about that era and even earlier

[Froggy]

The only reason why they "care" now is because it hurt the industry enough for them to.

Yea but it seems like most people don't get or realize that when they say they don't 'get' the need for diversity, like they're being force fed minorities into their Rice Krispies

[wild_child2]

my bad, your response kinda made me think you were taking the word myth literally


Well thats their option but it can hurt them and the industry in the long run

Merely saying that's just their opinion doesn't refute my point.

Yeah I didn't mean to post the picture for Tuna. Just ignore it, I don't know how to remove pictures.

[Froggy]

Merely saying that's just their opinion doesn't refute my point.

Yeah I didn't mean to post the picture for Tuna. Just ignore it, I don't know how to remove pictures.

I said option, not opinion, soooo that's kind of irrelevant like the tuna thing. You can edit the picture out by the way.

[wild_child2]

I said option, not opinion, soooo that's kind of irrelevant like the tuna thing. You can edit the picture out by the way.

Ok but I don't see how saying "thats their option" refutes my point. It wouldn't hurt them to be diverse except writers don't care enough to. Why would you force a creative decision on writers only for diversity's own sake?

[Double 0]

Look I don't even know why this is even an argument. It's not wise to debate what already has very clear examples.

There have been a laundry list of hated, beloved, and legendary minority creators that have decided to make money elsewhere because comics was exclusionary. And are now making more money than they ever would have in comics.

The US comic book industry has repeated shot themselves in the foot because they've decided to cater to those who think diverse worlds are an option, not a necessity.

You don't have to "force" writers to bring more diversity. Just hire more writers who have an eye for it, instead of consistently hiring those who, as I said, consider diversity an option because you "trust them", or they're related to you, or your friend.

[Froggy]

Ok but I don't see how saying "thats their option" refutes my point. It wouldn't hurt them to be diverse except writers don't care enough to. Why would you force a creative decision on writers only for diversity's own sake?

Well some writers care, some writers don't, and it's shown that it hurts them due to it being one of the major issues in the comics industry. I mean the fact is that it's a recurring issue and the noted attempts (or lack thereof) show this to be true. No one is foisting creative decisions like that, which I don't think you seem to get. People are saying diversity would be a good idea, not 'diversity or die' or any variation of a forceful inclusion. Added to that the fact diversity in the field of comics on the creative side seems to be lacking because those people are leaving to other areas of media that are less exclusive

Plus let's answer your question with a question

Ok, lets take your argument to a natural conclusion, a historical conclusion: a company filled with people who don't care.

Does it make sense for a company to isolate their target audience like that? Especially one that isn't trying to create fringe products? How would you justify that, hiring practice wise? Or overall company direction wise?

[wild_child2]

Ok, lets take your argument to a natural conclusion, a historical conclusion: a company filled with people who don't care.

Does it make sense for a company to isolate their target audience like that? Especially one that isn't trying to create fringe products? How would you justify that, hiring practice wise? Or overall company direction wise?

Except that the target audience is straight white males.

[wild_child2]

Well some writers care, some writers don't, and it's shown that it hurts them due to it being one of the major issues in the comics industry. I mean the fact is that it's a recurring issue and the noted attempts (or lack thereof) show this to be true. No one is foisting creative decisions like that, which I don't think you seem to get. People are saying diversity would be a good idea, not 'diversity or die' or any variation of a forceful inclusion. Added to that the fact diversity in the field of comics on the creative side seems to be lacking because those people are leaving to other areas of media that are less exclusive

Plus let's answer your question with a question

I don't see how not being a diverse a major issue. Sale wise and story telling wise.

[Vic Vega]

Yella did the music for them too

Yeah it's crazy how both him and Snoop did it long before Wesley Pipes and Brian Pumper tried to combine the two


There's a lot of stuff to talk about that era and even earlier

And how Dre let Jake Steed do a skit for him on an album and had him thinking he was gonna
get put on.

And that was the reasonable stuff.

If you told somebody about Bushwick Bill now, they would think you were lying.

[Double 0]

Except that the target audience is straight white males.

And what if, like per se, what's happening currently, that target audience is no longer reliable? That they are more satisfied with another medium's product, and have ditched yours?

That's no longer a profitable strategy. Sustainable? Maybe, but not profitable. Hasn't been for just about any medium, but comics seems to be the last to understand that.


And what do you say to the people you have chosen to exclude with this? Everyone who does not fit in that one target? Choose something else? Don't care about your race, gender, or sexual orientation, because we haven't found them and their story opportunities worth our time to add in our stories? I mean, if you think it's worth the bad PR, go for it.

[ExcelsiorPrime]

I'll just add..the Target Audience should be anyone with disposable income. No wonder the Market has shrunken...going solely after the white demo killed it!

Imagine a restaurant that only wants one clientele. That is the worst business model I have ever heard of, Coca cola only wants to sell to whites. Cell Phone companies only wanting to provide coverage for women.

Dumbness personified.

Especially when whites are forecast to become a numerical minority (youth category) by 2020 and adult by 2043 in the US. That is not that far off. And its already happened in the 8 and under age range.

New census numbers indicate that white Americans are shifting towards a statistical minority. Last year's numbers indicated that white babies are now a minority. Now the under age 5 group will soon be made up of over half racial minorities.

As of 2012, 49.9% of children 5 and under were racial minorities. By this year or next, the number will be over 50%.

The number of deaths now exceeds the number of births in the white American population for the first time in a century.

The non-white population as a whole has increased to 37 percent of America.

Fastest growth is among Americans who consider themselves multi-racial

Non-Hispanic whites currently make up 63 percent of the U.S.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ren-age-5.html

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013...e-by-2043?lite

Minorities now surpass whites in US births, census shows
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012...-census-shows/

[Double 0]

Also, how do you refute the fact that successful publishers and companies in more profitable industries, video games (plenty of them, but notably Ubisoft despite their massive flaws/screwups) and TV (see FOX) have outright stated that the diversity of their products more profitable.

But enough about profit, lets talk creatively. Ask Kieron Gillen if diversity hasn't provided more story avenues for him. Or Al Ewing. Why not ask Ms. Marvel fans why they like her, or Ultimate Spider-Man fans. Why not ask Milestone fans what about that universe inspired them, moved them.

It's clear to me, it's about new voices. Perspectives like your own or unlike, but different from the typical. And the white straight male perspective has become rather typical. That's the flaw of being the default. It's similar to why people rush to listen to an Eminem or a Macklemore.