https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02 Week #5 with Tatum, Baily, Liv, Brendan, and Grant en-us 2021-02-24 03:28:39 UTC 2025-12-09 15:04:06 UTC hello@padlet.com hallb52 https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1237952007 Nubia: Real One is a story about a black girl with extraordinary powers. She is the newest DC superhero as the comic was released yesterday. This comic has already been praised by critics for its authenticity and relatability. This comic shows diversity as it was written by a black author, L.L. McKinney, and drawn by a black artist, Robyn Smith. This comic is on my reading list and I cannot wait to have it in my future classroom. As mentioned in Low’s article and Yang’s speech: stories like Nubia: Real One are so important for students, especially students of color, to read, so they can see people of color as superheroes or leading characters in multiple mediums. Nubia: Real One is a step in the right direction for diversity in comics. 

]]> 2021-02-24 18:52:33 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1237952007 hallb52 https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1237995488 In David Low’s article “Students Contesting “Colormuteness” Through Critical Inquiries into Comics” he discusses the comic Ms. Marvel with three sixth-graders: David, Desiree, and Tyler, and they all mention the lack of people of color in comics. As the three sixth graders continue to talk about this topic, Desiree states, “I’m gonna make different race comic book characters” (Low 25). The artist, Orion Martin, does this with a range of DC superheroes. He changes the story to make race an integrated part of it as stated in Gene Demby’s article “Who Gets to be a Superhero? Race and Identity in Comics” in the quote, “In the new re-imagining, Wolverine, known for "his snarling, predatory aggression" becomes "a stereotype of angry black men.” Martin uses other techniques to include race in his art and it is a great way to reimagine and innovate superheroes. ]]> 2021-02-24 19:00:44 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1237995488 mullenor https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238070160 This past year, I binged an Amazon Prime show called The Boys. It's about if superheroes existed in contemporary times, but they're all secretly horrible people, owned by a big corporation, and are pawns in the capitalist agenda--ironic coming from Amazon, isn't it. The commentary that it made was super interesting, and kind of difficult to decipher but also extremely important. This article gives a comprehensive review of the social commentary that The Boys was trying to get across. The readings made me think of this show and its commentary, but also it ties into a remimagining of the canon/traditional interpretations of classic ideas or characters: in this case, superheroes.]]> 2021-02-24 19:15:49 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238070160 hallb52 https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238139852 Sorry to Bother You is sadly not a comic, but a film. It still connects greatly to the themes within the readings. Sorry to Bother You (2018) is a satire on living under capitalism in America as a person of color. It is a dark movie that includes several scenes of black trauma, so be aware of that before viewing, but it also shows black empowerment and excellence. The main character, Cassius, finds his way back to the people he loves after being used as a token by white people. This short clip of the film shows the sad truth of how many people of color must force themselves to change to succeed such as using a "white voice." There are scenes that illustrate how uncomfortable talking about race can be as mentioned in Low’s article in the quote “Discussing race and racism as enduring phenomena that affect all facets of American life is a tougher pill for many to swallow” (19), but feelings should never trump lives. Systemic racism kills, so people need to get more comfortable talking about race, and movies like Sorry to Bother You are a great starting point for a discussion on the topic. ]]> 2021-02-24 19:30:01 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238139852 hallb52 https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238222832 The Lovebirds (2020) starring Issa Rae as Leilani and Kumail Nanjiani as Jibran is a film of many genres including romance, action, mystery, social justice, and comedy. The story is about a couple who breaks up, but then hits a person on their way home. The sad part is they wished they had only hit the person because a person posing as a police officer stole their car and killed the man. They were caught in the act by some people passing by and knew that police officers would not believe two people of color. They fled the scene and the entire movie is about how they will solve the mystery themselves while encountering countless struggles that are brought up because of their race. This movie is a perfect starting point to talk about the issue of racism in America. The two make it out safely in the end and find their way in life. The Lovebirds exemplifies the need for more people of color cast as main roles in films. Also, Issae Rae’s novel Awkward Black Girl is a comedic, relatable, and black empowering book that everyone needs to read. ]]> 2021-02-24 19:47:34 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238222832 abbottga https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238381320 Before this class, comics were an unfamiliar concept to me. I looked up "diversity in comics" in addition to the article to get an idea of what resources were out there and I found this program that is looking for artists and comic creators who want to create comics including characters with diverse backgrounds. This program would help combat the overwhelming presence of white, male superheroes and main characters that Low describes in the article. I think it's important for there to be an outlet to help popularize inclusive comic narratives and this is a step in the right direction.]]> 2021-02-24 20:26:24 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238381320 abbottga https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238435872 Even though Spongebob is not a comic, the show includes Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy as superheroes and desirable icons in Bikini Bottom. Almost every other character on the show is either an animal or inanimate object, whether it's a sponge, squirrel, computer, plankton, whale, etc.; but, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy are both humanized and racialized as white men, reinforcing the exclusion of minority superheroes that is common in comics. The two white men become idolized and reinforce the same idea to children, assessed in Low's article, that a 'proper' superhero only includes majority groups.]]> 2021-02-24 20:41:41 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238435872 morri306 https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238451507 Though no medium can be considered particularly safe from racism, one would generally imagine that lighthearted children's cartoons would be fairly free of racist stereotypes. In the last few years as academics and the former children that once watched Looney Toons have reviewed older animations, they have found that the same companies that produced the cartoons that they enjoyed in their childhoods also put out a considerable volume of explicitly racist and damaging cartoons in the 1930s and 40s. The 'Censored Eleven' are a set of animations that were deemed so offensive that no amount of censorship could render the content acceptable for public viewing and they provide insight into how acceptable and normalized overt racism was until very recently. Artists and authors like Gene Luen Yang are working to saturate their respective fields with racially conscious and inclusive content to displace the unbelievable volume of racist works that currently enjoy fame and success in their place.]]> 2021-02-24 20:46:05 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238451507 abbottga https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238475272 In addition to just including diverse characters in comics and making them superheroes, as Low suggests, their portrayal is also important because it can either reinforce dangerous racial stereotypes or it can showcase characters in a unique light that assigns them agency and power in a situation where stereotypes would limit them. The Total Drama franchise (a cartoon parody of Survivor) is an example of one that has worked to change over the years, which is an example that comic creators can follow. In the original two seasons of the franchise (Total Drama Island and Action), the character Leshawna is the only Black woman in a cast of almost twenty White competitors with different personalities. Although she becomes one of the most strategic and interesting characters in both seasons, she is characterized almost solely by her temper and sass, as well as her close relationship with her cousin, Leshaniqua. The stereotypes placed on Leshawna lead kids to assume her personality is a generalization of Black women. Seasons later, during a parody of The Amazing Race, they began to include a few different Black women with unique personalities and showed children that, just like the White women of the franchise, a person of one race cannot be defined by a set list of traits. Comics can follow this same example by being mindful of character portrayal and not reducing non-White characters to a few stereotypical traits.]]> 2021-02-24 20:53:02 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238475272 hallb52 https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238478215 Amphibia was created by Asian American artist, Matt Braly, to reflect his childhood in Bangkok, Thailand. The show is about an Asian American girl, Anne Boonchuy, who finds herself in a land of frogs with no way to get home. She must make friends with the frogs and assimilate into their culture, so she can find her way home to her friends and family. It is an extremely funny and heartfelt show that illustrates easy ways to talk to kids about race. The voice of Anne is Brenda Song, who was one of the few Asian American figures I saw on Disney channel growing up, so it is great she is still in the business teaching children about topics such as race. There is not enough Asian American representation in America, so it is crucial to have shows such as Amphibia to teach children of color that they deserve to be in the spotlight, too. ]]> 2021-02-24 20:53:53 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238478215 morri306 https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238538811 Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote the most recent iteration of the Black Panther comic book series. It is called A Nation Under Our Feet and it has received overwhelmingly favorable reviews, especially by older fans of the series (who, as I understand, are generally difficult to please). The premise of this particular series is that unlike in previous renditions of the hero's home  country of Wakanda, this time around, the nation is deeply threatened by a terrorist organization and there is great fear of collapse. The first book was published in 2016 and it reflects the fears that much of the American public (especially members of marginalized communities) had regarding unrest and state decay. Overall, just a good example of good Black representation in comics. Also worth noting that Ta-Nehisi Coates agreeing to write a comic means good things for the public acceptance of comics and graphic novels as legitimate forms of literature!]]> 2021-02-24 21:11:19 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238538811 morri306 https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238633559 Samandal is a non-profit organization based in Beirut that publishes magazines as well as compilations of original comics in Arabic by authors of primarily Lebanese origin. Because the medium has been dominated by Westerners for decades, it is very difficult to find any comics written in Arabic and those that are (including these) are written in the stuffy formal dialect that is difficult for children to understand. Interestingly enough, though, because superhero-style comics are not particularly popular in Arabic-speaking countries, the stigma that comic book artists in America have to deal with is not a factor and they seem to be considered just another art form. All of the comics are different, highly stylized, and more sobered and serious than their American counterparts. The artists that contribute to Samandal definitely have a unique concept of what the form of the comic book is suited to. Worth checking out, even if you don't speak Arabic.]]> 2021-02-24 21:42:19 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238633559 morri306 https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238692754 The first recorded publication of a comic book by a Black team of artists was titled 'All-Negro Comics' and featured both positive depictions of heroic Black protagonists as well as a handful of what would today be considered harmful stereotypes, though notably as the team behind the publication was entirely Black it can be reasonably assumed that they had no malice. The publication was not particularly successful, primarily due to the fact that there was not a very large audience for stories dealing the Black experience at all, let alone in the form of a comic book. The fact that there were no Black voices in comics whatsoever until this publication in 1947 helps to illustrate just how little precedent there is for diversity in comics and how important it is for one to be set.]]> 2021-02-24 22:05:05 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238692754 morri306 https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238717462 Similar to the story of the character Miles Morales' inception, the team at Marvel rewrote the originally white superhero Ms. Marvel to be a person of color and refocused the plot to center around questions of identity and belonging. The new Ms. Marvel is a Pakistani-American girl named Kamala Khan and surprisingly, her Islamic faith and the implications that it has on her daily life are featured heavily. The series is massively successful and has been praised for its authenticity, no doubt in part thanks to the fact that one of the creators of the character Kamala Khan was herself a Pakistani-American woman that grew up in New Jersey like the new Ms. Marvel. There is a TV series for this new iteration of Ms. Marvel in the works and it will be streaming on Disney+ when it is released.]]> 2021-02-24 22:14:53 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1238717462 mullenor https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239173857 The comic book industry, like all American media, is reflective of the society that surrounds it. In America's case, systemic injustice and white supremacy are the most significant and present societal undertones. The comic book industry is dominated by white men, something that is rarely talked about. This perpetuates the precedent that is set about not recognizing race because whiteness is the norm. David Low discusses color-blind racism in his article on race and comics. I thought this was really important to recognize because it's indicative of the racist undertones in our society that inevitably spill into our media. This article in Oprah Magazine has interesting commentary on colorblindness and how it fits together in our surrounding societies. ]]> 2021-02-25 02:21:07 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239173857 durbintb https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239190005 In Marvel's first MCU T.V. Adaption, we follow an agent of S.W.O.R.D. as she tries to uncover the mystery of Westview, and what Wanda is up to. Monica is a character that has been in Marvel for a really, really long time, and it is nice to see her finally added to the canon universe. However, there is a lot of backlash. People are insulting her actress for not being 'good enough', amongst other reasons, and saying things that are literal micro-aggressions. However, Monica in the comics... has always been black. In this article, her actress discusses the importance of representation in the Superhero world.]]> 2021-02-25 02:31:52 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239190005 mullenor https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239209381 Something that stood out to me while reading the pieces for this week was Yang's commentary on the word Black in the Black Panther's name. He made the point that by including Black as a descriptor in this hero's name it draws the attention directly to their race: that "what makes [the Black Panther] remarkable is neither their superpowers nor their heroism, but their ethnicity” (Yang 3). I had a conversation about this with my brother, and we agreed that The Panther would be an equally cool, if not cooler, name for a superhero that doesn't draw immediate attention to the thing that obviously sets them apart from the rest of the supers. Though Yang called attention to this, he also praised Black Panther as a story and as a source of representation for young POCs. I thought it was interesting to delve into the various aspects of Black Panther's social commentary and potential racist undertones. This article discusses the bounding strides that Black Panther took for Black people, but I also wanted to recognize these sources of micro-racism/aggressions. ]]> 2021-02-25 02:36:07 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239209381 durbintb https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239214972 This video talks about the importance of representation in comic books. One of the main reasons is that it gives children of color a person to look up to. I remember, when I was younger and Tiana, the first Black Disney princess came out, one of my Black friends literally cried. I was unable to understand why, but that was because of my privilege. Every single Disney princess looked like me, I could dress up as any of them, but she didn't look like them. For her to finally have someone to relate to and look up to, must have felt amazing. That is why we need more Black representation in superhero franchises, so young Black children have a hero that they can also relate to. ]]> 2021-02-25 02:39:49 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239214972 durbintb https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239222654 The white savior complex is a weird phenomena, where white folx would go to third world country, impose their beliefs, take pictures for performative activism, and claim to help the people there. Now, this does not have anything to necessarily do with race in comics, unless you think critically about it. For our entire lives, as a Western country, we have been taught, because of this complex in mainstream media (i.e. The Blindside), that white people are heroes, and are the ones that will save POC. We never see a Black person as a hero, because our culture did not allow it for decades. If that's the case, then of course Black folx would never be represented in comics, because they are never shown as the hero. This is something we should leave in the past, as the article I linked states. ]]> 2021-02-25 02:44:44 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239222654 durbintb https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239233696 When discussing this topic, it may be easy to forget children's books. Our first thought goes towards more adult comics, such as things in the Marvel series, however, books designed for children play and crucial role in the development of racial perception and tolerance. As a child, every book I read had only white children, unless the purpose of the book was to discuss racial acceptance, and this makes sense considering the fact I listed. Animals are more prevalent in children books almost more than every POC combined. Native Americans (listed as American Indians, which we know is not proper or correct) don't even hit 1%. Seeing a lack of other races may make exposure for children uncomfortable, especially if they grow up in predominately white neighborhoods. ]]> 2021-02-25 02:52:03 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239233696 mullenor https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239238060 I've been meaning to read the graphic novel, Watchmen, for a while, so for the free choice of a comic aspect of this assignment I chose to dive into this hefty book of artistic and literary expression. The first words of the book read "dog carcass in alley this morning, tire tread on burst stomach" (Moore and Gibbons). Now, I am no parent, but that does not seem like a book to be read to babies. Low talks about an ELA teacher referring to graphic novels as "baby books" and not allowing her students to them for credit. This stood out to me because, as an ex bored high school student, I think that if a student is engaged with a text why take it from them? I found this article about why it is important to encourage a child's interest in graphic novels. The article explores why children love graphic novels and the benefits they have. ]]> 2021-02-25 02:54:45 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239238060 durbintb https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239247845 The comic below illustrates the problem I have listed perfectly. In media, we always see white people claiming that race isn't really a problem in the U.S. because it isn't... for them. If you are white, such as myself, you are apart of the privileged group that benefits from the oppression of others. As a culture, we need to stop listening to the privileged when it comes to issues that deal with the oppressed. We will never be able to understand or empathize with them, and that's why committees dedicated to fixing these problems should have a board made up mostly of POC. ]]> 2021-02-25 03:01:50 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239247845 mullenor https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239406934 As a white person, looking back at my childhood, I never had to look for a celebrity role model that looked like me. They were everywhere: on cereal boxes, TV, magazines, commercials, etc. This had a huge impact on my racial and ethnic identity process. All white people, though we've had vastly different lives, experienced this comfort with society and our place in it, socializing us to behave in the system in which we have power as oppressors. At the end of the Low article, the results of his research are laid out that state that students who were exposed to graphic novels "made connections to their own racial identities" (8). I loved seeing this because the racial and ethnic identity process is so different from that of white people, so it's good that graphic novels provide a better foundation for a healthy relationship with one's identity. This video shows a PBS produced interview with high school students about why representation matters to them, citing their own experiences and how they were affected. This all ties together in a really interesting way.]]> 2021-02-25 04:38:34 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239406934 abbottga https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239706711 While the inclusion of characters of all backgrounds should be normalized, the Dwayne McDuffie Award honors comic creators who include main characters with unique, diverse backgrounds which is a step in the direction of normalizing narratives that combat white saviors/white superiority. Creating an award that stresses the importance of including everyone in a superhero or powerful role is one key way to push the idea that everyone should be the 'ideal,' rather than limiting it to majority groups. Like in the Low article, comics are a place for the intersection of all identities and this can be highlighted through the use of a prestigious award.]]> 2021-02-25 07:07:05 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239706711 abbottga https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239744404 One important resource I found is a HuffPost article detailing what steps comic creators have made to combat racial exclusion in the comic world and what still needs to be done. One of the most important things to consider when assessing the need for increased inclusivity is the history behind White savior comics and how other races have either been excluded, overshadowed, or even stereotyped. As Low asserts, comics are generally overlooked as insignificant and shallow; but, understanding the history and implications behind exclusion in comics, as well as its impact on reinforcing stereotypes, can also lead people to take comics more seriously and push for greater change in that realm.]]> 2021-02-25 07:20:58 UTC https://padlet.com/durbintb/ie33lqs0lk53mw02/wish/1239744404