This is so cool. I've literally just finished a novel where one of the main themes is pretty much this to the most extreme extent, that separation from your culture, from your heritage. Because I wasn't raised in mine at all. Though specifically, I'm Ukrainian Jewish, so it's about that. But it's nice to see someone else talking about this sort of thing, about how hard it is to try to do any of that representation accurately. 'Cause you're right. We DON'T talk about that. And we should.
Adding unique and interesting characters is important. One of the many aspects of what can make a character compelling is their race and culture. So including this consideration can make every character feel well rounded and believable. However, like you said, it has to make sense. If including a diverse cast doesn't make sense for the setting, time period, or would otherwise harm the plot, then don't do it. Even if it makes it one degree harder for the reader to suspend disbelief, then it should be avoided, because the goal should be to write a captivating story. A setting in modern day New York, you would expect to see all sorts of people and no one would blink twice at your cast no matter their heritage. But if the setting is 1300's Italy, then a character with a distinct ethnicity would make very little sense and would distract the reader considerably, unless this fact about the character is a major plot point. So if you feel like you are "Whitewashing" your cast, consider your plot and setting carefully. If it doesn't make sense to add more diversity, then there is nothing wrong with "Whitewashing" at all.
I loved this take, love the transparency and the creative growth that'll come from it! I watch any and everything but I can say when I see a poc in a show or movie, it does make it more interesting to me!
Thank youuuu!! I learned so much from those old Hollywood movies and their actors 💕 YES! I love reminding myself I have the option to bring some POC into a story to see what that story looks like.
I'm so glad I found your video. I've been struggling with this issue since I grew up raised as Caucasian but recently found out that's not entirely true. My father kept our full heritage a secret from everyone since we passed as white and he's got vehement hang ups (not sure why as he refuses to say). I'm now coming to terms with this reveal while trying to undo the disconnect from within. Thank you for your transparency and sharing your insight 💕 much appreciated 😊
Amazing!!! Thanks so much for sharing! I really admire that you’re taking the journey to know your family history and understand where the people you love came from. It might be difficult processing that history, but it definitely brings a closer connection to heritage and hopefully to your dad. 💗
Thanks for your comment! I did much soul searching previous to releasing this video with thoughts of using this term. It is still quite frequently used by the industry trades although becoming less common with the introduction in recent years of Diversity and Inclusion departments to solve this problem. The departments were created because audiences wanted more diversity away from a specifically white stories or only using white actors. I made the choice to use the term because of its definition as set by Miriam Webster, and the history that Hollywood in America has with this term: “to alter (something) in a way that favors, features, or caters to white people a: to portray (the past) in a way that increases the prominence, relevance, or impact of white people and minimizes or misrepresents that of nonwhite people.” I understand many may not like the term or find it taboo because it has negativity attached to it. This is why I think we should talk about it. But I do think that people with objective minds will understand the context I used to explain why I wrote stories the way I did influences from growing up watching and working in American Cinema. As well as gain perspective on their own writing. 💞
@@PikaLeeMedia Well you wouldn't say "blackwashing" or "yellowwashing" or "colorwashing" would you? Would you say we're gonna get it all colored up in there? So what's the difference? Racism is racism. I don't care what it says in some dictionary.
This is so cool. I've literally just finished a novel where one of the main themes is pretty much this to the most extreme extent, that separation from your culture, from your heritage. Because I wasn't raised in mine at all. Though specifically, I'm Ukrainian Jewish, so it's about that. But it's nice to see someone else talking about this sort of thing, about how hard it is to try to do any of that representation accurately. 'Cause you're right. We DON'T talk about that. And we should.
I love hearing that!! It makes me so happy to know another writer is bringing their own experiences with this subject into their work. 🙌
@@PikaLeeMedia 😁
Adding unique and interesting characters is important. One of the many aspects of what can make a character compelling is their race and culture. So including this consideration can make every character feel well rounded and believable. However, like you said, it has to make sense. If including a diverse cast doesn't make sense for the setting, time period, or would otherwise harm the plot, then don't do it. Even if it makes it one degree harder for the reader to suspend disbelief, then it should be avoided, because the goal should be to write a captivating story. A setting in modern day New York, you would expect to see all sorts of people and no one would blink twice at your cast no matter their heritage. But if the setting is 1300's Italy, then a character with a distinct ethnicity would make very little sense and would distract the reader considerably, unless this fact about the character is a major plot point.
So if you feel like you are "Whitewashing" your cast, consider your plot and setting carefully. If it doesn't make sense to add more diversity, then there is nothing wrong with "Whitewashing" at all.
I loved this take, love the transparency and the creative growth that'll come from it! I watch any and everything but I can say when I see a poc in a show or movie, it does make it more interesting to me!
Thank youuuu!! I learned so much from those old Hollywood movies and their actors 💕 YES! I love reminding myself I have the option to bring some POC into a story to see what that story looks like.
I'm so glad I found your video. I've been struggling with this issue since I grew up raised as Caucasian but recently found out that's not entirely true. My father kept our full heritage a secret from everyone since we passed as white and he's got vehement hang ups (not sure why as he refuses to say). I'm now coming to terms with this reveal while trying to undo the disconnect from within. Thank you for your transparency and sharing your insight 💕 much appreciated 😊
Amazing!!! Thanks so much for sharing! I really admire that you’re taking the journey to know your family history and understand where the people you love came from. It might be difficult processing that history, but it definitely brings a closer connection to heritage and hopefully to your dad. 💗
love your videos 🙂
THANK YOUUU! 🫶
The term "whitewashing" is really insensitive, even racist. I hope you do some soul searching and find a better way to talk about this issue.
Thanks for your comment! I did much soul searching previous to releasing this video with thoughts of using this term. It is still quite frequently used by the industry trades although becoming less common with the introduction in recent years of Diversity and Inclusion departments to solve this problem.
The departments were created because audiences wanted more diversity away from a specifically white stories or only using white actors. I made the choice to use the term because of its definition as set by Miriam Webster, and the history that Hollywood in America has with this term:
“to alter (something) in a way that favors, features, or caters to white people
a: to portray (the past) in a way that increases the prominence, relevance, or impact of white people and minimizes or misrepresents that of nonwhite people.”
I understand many may not like the term or find it taboo because it has negativity attached to it. This is why I think we should talk about it. But I do think that people with objective minds will understand the context I used to explain why I wrote stories the way I did influences from growing up watching and working in American Cinema. As well as gain perspective on their own writing. 💞
@@PikaLeeMedia Well you wouldn't say "blackwashing" or "yellowwashing" or "colorwashing" would you? Would you say we're gonna get it all colored up in there? So what's the difference? Racism is racism. I don't care what it says in some dictionary.