NORMS & INCLUSIVITY
The Peaks + Valleys of Mainstream Representation
With times moving in a progressive direction, there’s been an emphasis on implementing characters that fit the mold in entertainment.
Shows such as the CW’s Black Lightning offer characters that provide representation to the LGBTQ community under the superhero landscape. The DC Comics-based show offers a dynamic for Thunder, (Anissa Pierce), who is in a relationship with fellow meta-human and shapeshifter, Grace.
Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II offers a storyline strongly centered around an older Ellie. Transitioning from a supporting role in the first game to the lead protagonist in the second, she embarks on a growing relationship between her and her girlfriend, Dina, along their journey of conflict and vengeance.
Both, budding stories that had offered traits that created a strong relatability to the misrepresented.
A sense of normalcy that puts forth their character traits and motivations, beyond what they identify as.
To be strong, brave, and defiant.
Bo Ruberg, the author of The Queer Games Avant-Garde, spoke on The Last of Us Part II, stating LGBTQ players feel the excitement, “empowered by the presence of these characters in such a prominent game.”
The traits of protagonists on these projects often grow along with the fandom of the character, adding variety to stories.
But there are times where certain gender norms are put in place that may take away from the character’s aesthetic.
Recent news of Hasbro’s Mr. Potato Head character has raised many eyebrows. Some with some intrigue; others with some resentment.
The toy company elaborated in saying: “While it was announced today that the POTATO HEAD brand name & logo are dropping the ‘MR.’ I am proud to confirm that MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD aren’t going anywhere and will remain MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD.”
Trans consultant Laura Kate Dale took to Twitter to offer her two cents on the matter, explaining that while the news was exaggerated, the transgender community didn’t call for them to “remove gender from Potato toys.”
Another iconic figure rumored to represent the LGBTQ community was Spider-Man; as Sony has lobbied for the Marvel hero to become a bisexual character in future projects.
This is a topic that is not new to mainstream media, as Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland have gone on record stating that they’d be open to that idea coming to light.
The reaction for this was also polarizing. Some open to the twist in the character and others questioning if it’ll lose the essence of the phenomenon from Forest Hills.
Fans of established characters have long been receptive to its origin story. And while many clamor for representation, it’ll be a hard feat to change attributes to the character without taking away from its dynamic.
Similar to adjusting existing entities such as the national anthem, it can be seen as lazy to add-on, as opposed to creating a new entity that may encompass that demographic, or all of them in kind.
Ultimately, with unheralded figures like Thunder from Black Lightning or a grown-up Ellie, it is a seamless transition for the character as their story progresses.
But recreating a pastime, perhaps one that established a dynamic may just overcomplicate the legacy of an established figure.
