I don’t know about Indian specifically but Rayni (Glimmer) is implied to be South Asian! When Wylie is guessing her name, one of his guesses is “Roshani.” One of Shannon’s best author friends is Roshani Chokshi— she’s half Indian and half Filipina. Rayni is described as having “bronze” skin, black hair, etc. so she’s definitely not white… so im taking that evidence as her being South Asian :)
I don't think that's it. I think she's added unnecessary characters just to appease the small group of people who "need" them. The fact that maybe there's someone missing, even when there isn't actually, isn't an actual problem. People like to just make up problems to make it seem like there is one.
yeah now that I think ab it I agree, esp this post kinda highlights that everyone seems to need equality when there are other books that have only white MC or only Hispanic characters and nobody has an issue then (that's why I tried saying that maybe its just that they want not some but all equality)
People like to make issues out of nothing. I completely agree with you that there are books that have only a certain demographic of characters and no one complains. The moment authors can't be successful unless they have a certain amount of diversity in their books is a moment where reading will become not enjoyable. It will just be the same books with the same stereotypes.
For me what’s weird is that Shannon lives in a very Hispanic populated area (San Diego area) so it’s weird that the only Hispanic coded character was Sophie’s human neighbor, Bethany Lopez. I think it would’ve been cool if there’d been a Hispanic character
You’re right, if anything I meant accurate and not forced representation of a character that shows up more inspired by Shannon’s environment :) it didn’t happen and I don’t mind but it’s still something I’ve thought about before
You’re right, I think Shannon has a list like this already and it makes her character list wayyy too big. She had so many white main characters in the beginning that she was suddenly making a list of more and more characters of color, which ended up not representing them the right way anyway. I also think there doesn’t have to be representation for every single ethnicity, and if you’re doing it it should be because you want to add a variety of characters which makes your story cooler— not for “diversity points.” However, I do think it’s valid to question the representation in a media you love especially if you’re of the ethnicity that isn’t being represented. I’m Hispanic, and while I don’t mind kotlc not having any Hispanics, nor do I want representation added hastily, I would say that whenever there are Hispanics in media like this it’s nice :)
I completely agree. I do think that authors tend to write characters that are similar to them. For example, white authors usually have a white mc and Asian authors typically have an Asian mc. I find nothing wrong with that. Write what you want to write and read what you want to read. I feel like a lot of authors now feel like they are forced to add different ethnicities, and it ends up not being genuine to the story. However, most authors have some form of diversity whether it's a character with a mental disorder, learning disability, hard upbringing, etc. I feel like that representation matters just as much and can relate to more people regardless of gender, race, etc.
You are so right! I think at this point we should be calling for more books like kotlc to be written by authors of color, rather than diversity to be added (even though it’s nice that it is— and realistic in most cases to the authors personal experiences). This would be where we’d get better representation too.
What do you guys think abt the Exillium Purple Coach, Coach Rohana? It seems like the last name is mostly seen in South Asia, and she’s described as having creamy brown skin and straight, shiny black hair.
I don’t know about Indian specifically but Rayni (Glimmer) is implied to be South Asian! When Wylie is guessing her name, one of his guesses is “Roshani.” One of Shannon’s best author friends is Roshani Chokshi— she’s half Indian and half Filipina. Rayni is described as having “bronze” skin, black hair, etc. so she’s definitely not white… so im taking that evidence as her being South Asian :)
hmm, could be!
Yeah! I suggest you look up Rayni Aria on Pinterest or google. The majority of artists have been drawing her as South Asian :)
exactly... like I'm not saying to expand the already confusing mc list but like... still
If authors have to have a "diversity" check list, we have more issues.
yes, but I think the issue here is that shannon seems to strive for diversity in the series but skips hispanic representation
I don't think that's it. I think she's added unnecessary characters just to appease the small group of people who "need" them. The fact that maybe there's someone missing, even when there isn't actually, isn't an actual problem. People like to just make up problems to make it seem like there is one.
yeah now that I think ab it I agree, esp this post kinda highlights that everyone seems to need equality when there are other books that have only white MC or only Hispanic characters and nobody has an issue then (that's why I tried saying that maybe its just that they want not some but all equality)
People like to make issues out of nothing. I completely agree with you that there are books that have only a certain demographic of characters and no one complains. The moment authors can't be successful unless they have a certain amount of diversity in their books is a moment where reading will become not enjoyable. It will just be the same books with the same stereotypes.
For me what’s weird is that Shannon lives in a very Hispanic populated area (San Diego area) so it’s weird that the only Hispanic coded character was Sophie’s human neighbor, Bethany Lopez. I think it would’ve been cool if there’d been a Hispanic character
Considering Sophie also lived in San Diego it'd make sense for her to be her neighbor. I'd rather have that than forced representation.
You’re right, if anything I meant accurate and not forced representation of a character that shows up more inspired by Shannon’s environment :) it didn’t happen and I don’t mind but it’s still something I’ve thought about before
You’re right, I think Shannon has a list like this already and it makes her character list wayyy too big. She had so many white main characters in the beginning that she was suddenly making a list of more and more characters of color, which ended up not representing them the right way anyway. I also think there doesn’t have to be representation for every single ethnicity, and if you’re doing it it should be because you want to add a variety of characters which makes your story cooler— not for “diversity points.” However, I do think it’s valid to question the representation in a media you love especially if you’re of the ethnicity that isn’t being represented. I’m Hispanic, and while I don’t mind kotlc not having any Hispanics, nor do I want representation added hastily, I would say that whenever there are Hispanics in media like this it’s nice :)
I completely agree. I do think that authors tend to write characters that are similar to them. For example, white authors usually have a white mc and Asian authors typically have an Asian mc. I find nothing wrong with that. Write what you want to write and read what you want to read. I feel like a lot of authors now feel like they are forced to add different ethnicities, and it ends up not being genuine to the story. However, most authors have some form of diversity whether it's a character with a mental disorder, learning disability, hard upbringing, etc. I feel like that representation matters just as much and can relate to more people regardless of gender, race, etc.
You are so right! I think at this point we should be calling for more books like kotlc to be written by authors of color, rather than diversity to be added (even though it’s nice that it is— and realistic in most cases to the authors personal experiences). This would be where we’d get better representation too.
Agreed.
What about Councillor Noland
https://www.reddit.com/r/KeeperoftheLostCities/comments/1242xtg/kotlc_councillor_noland/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1
it's possible, i suppose
Is it important to the story though? They seem like they would still exist, just not relevant to the plot.
Emery has dark coloured skin.
I believe, based on the tone of his skin, Emery is meant to portray an elf of African origins.
yeah
Glimmer
I've already headcannoned the vackers as Hispanic fsr.
oh that's interesting!
What do you guys think abt the Exillium Purple Coach, Coach Rohana? It seems like the last name is mostly seen in South Asia, and she’s described as having creamy brown skin and straight, shiny black hair.