08_ Stereotype and Ethnic Representation

    Stereotyping and ethnics are always a choice of subject because so many issues can come from them. As artists, who is to say what or how we draw? Really, no one can control our design and choices but there are definitely things to think about before settling for the character you thought was fine. 

    When designing characters and, more specifically, other races, it is important to not be offensive. If you are trying to represent someone, stereotypes are not the way to go. They don’t enhance the reading at all because they can’t describe any character individually. To stereotype is simply a way to judge a whole race or culture through any given character, rather than actually giving that character his/her own personality. Often times a stereotype is used as an easy joke when the artist isn’t really thinking about anything, it’s just a standard judgement that many don’t think about.

    Now, I can understand where some cases may appropriately include a stereotype. We have all experienced different situations and we have met different types of people. There are stereotypes for a reason, they have actually happen sometimes. The appropriate time to handle a stereotype is through observation. I believe that if you are or have observed something that may become stereotypical than hey, you’ve seen it happen so feel free to write about it. When it comes to the actual character, if you decide to exaggerate someone than you should do the same to other characters. It’s when there’s the uncomfortable difference in character design that we, as readers, see the artist is being aggressive. When bringing in a character they must be introduced at the same level as the others. 

    However you choose to render your representation, make sure it is something that you have experienced or seen. It is one thing to assume the stereotype in your artwork and then there’s the accurate depiction that benefits the story. Be careful when choosing the ways to depict a character because once the artist chooses to stereotype they will loose the connection with the audience and their views will not feel real.