One thing I’ve always wanted to do in fantasy writing and never have is to deeply explore the relationship between fantasy races and human racial classifications. Particular races are often associated with, even aligned with certain minority groups. I don’t think this is by accident. Our brains are designed to create order from perceived chaos/lack of understanding and free association is one way in which we do that. When we absently align Orks with blacks it is no accident. It happens because we can see certain characteristics in the writing that prescribe to our perceptions of back people. White supremacists regularly cast Tolkien as one of their own, citing in particular the description of orcs as being heavily based on that of blacks and asians. ““…squat, broad, flat-nosed, sallow-skinned, with wide mouths and slant eyes”
This description notwithstanding, there are other cultural clues within the writing that label orks as evil, lesser, etc. which are all the traits we have traditionally ascribed to minorities. Here is the thing though: I think Tolkien was talking about religion far more than he was about race itself when it comes to those races. Where I think there is a more interesting comparison is where I want to focus my own writing: I want to talk about where they shop.
You can tell the what stereotype an area pays homage to based on what you find in the strip malls. For example, there are two Yoga studios along the entire stretch of Crenshaw blvd. Neither are in what is affectionately known as ‘the hood’. Likewise, pawn shops and liquor stores tend to cluster in certain areas.
This is but a fledgling analysis that lives in the spectrum of a much larger truth, but that is what makes it fun to explore in writing. I have the opportunity through writing to explore whatever I find interesting. I love that about my life.
Some Thoughts:
- Other things I love about my life: My partner, my kids, my opportunity to grow.
- Speaking of growth, I will never use the term ‘flower’ to describe growth again. It is just a bad bad way to describe stuff.
- I might do it again because, jokes.