Helloo!! I’m not done being mad!!
This is a direct continuation of my last blog post, in which I talked about mischaracterization and/or misperception within fandom spaces and common things I see which I hate. If you haven’t seen that one, go look at it!! This isn’t self advertising!!! Trust!!!! If I add more exclamation points you may believe me!!!!!!!!
Horrible Four: I cry!!! I feel emotions!!! BLAME ME FOR IT!!!!
We all know that character, we all have one as a favorite – he or she may be our favorite character, but every time we see them drawn or in any sort of fan content they’re reduced to a singular emotional aspect of themselves, whether it be that they cry a lot, or they’re motherly, or they’re angry.. I was going to put Izuku Midoriya in here, but his face was staring at me the entire time I was writing this and it got unsettling.
No one knows you like i know you, Katara. No one.
Believe it or not women are allowed to feel things, and no it doesnt make them hysterical!! Guys it’s 2025!! we’re better than this!! She’s a character who is bad at forgiving people and holds a grudge, she’s not evil and she, believe it or not, doesn’t beat people with sticks!! Hope this helps!!
Okay. Yeah. I know.
Here’s the one where I’ll actually comment, okay. Yellowjackets.. while it’s impossible to excuse half of the things that happen, you have to think about the fact these are teenage girls with a literal sociopath being the only one with survival skills. Enough Said. “They ___ though!!” I literally haven’t seen the show all the way through and I hate them all so much. (I’m talking about the girls when they’re younger. NOTHING justifies what happens when they’re older i DONT care)
This one is technically a joint with what was going to be #5. “Oh btw i have mental illness,” In which characters are reduced to having one mental disorder of the other.
In Yellowjackets there is a character, Lottie, who has Schizophrenia. People blame her for the happenings of the story, but honestly.. Lottie, girl. Lottie my diva.
Type Five: Oh btw I have [insert disability/mental illness]
This one can go for a lot of characters. Characters in Arcane ranging from Jinx to Viktor, they’re ALWAYS reduced to some infantilized version of themselves. Or they’re evil or something.
The main problem I have with this is that it reflects really badly in real life on people with this disability/disorder. While representation is SO important, for all kinds of things, for so many reasons. (Take Cho Hyun-ju, or player 120 from squid games as example of how media representation went well) sometimes characters are reduced to JUST that aspect. If you portray every character with Bipolar Disorder the same (as erratic, out of control, violent, and crying all the time) then people really aren’t going to know that’s not what the disorder is. The same thing with schizophrenia, or even physical disabilities like mobility disorders. If you depict people with something and THEN throw a bad stereotype on top of it then you’re just strengthening that stereotype!! Don’t!!!
Type Six: Everyone’s type, apparently (I’m boring but at least I’m cool (looking))
This applies to just having a nice cohesive design, like with half the background ponies in My Little Pony. When I ask your favorite the most out of the way better be, like, Apple Bloom. I don’t want to hear something about Sparkle Wing who has two sentences as her Wikipedia page.
Other than that?
Daryl Dixon.
He wasn’t even in the comics. He wasn’t important at all in the first few seasons. I had more interest in a hundred other characters before him (Me when i lie). He became popular in the 5th season, due to high demand and likability from fans.. Maybe i’m a bit guilty for this one, and it’s redeemed since he did get his own seat as part of the main cast later on, and even his own show. (Even if that show isn’t exactly good.
Honorable mentions: Moost of the Aftons. I was genuinely convinced when getting into five nights at freddy’s that there would be any amount of real lore on these people, but no. Yall really took it and ran. After that is Kieran Duffy from Red Dead Redemption 2, who i am also guilty over.
That is all of the possible things I could think of and this is all I’ve thought about for two weeks.. mmmm… I’m not driving myself insane for no reason so yay!! We’re through!! Any other things you see or know or want to share please tell me about it because characterization is VERY important to me!!! I have so much to say about all of these characters and I fear I cannot articulate those words onto a page so if I said anything wrong or in a way that didn’t make sense I LOVE feedback !!! Have a nice day <333
My next few blogs will probably be character studies on a few i’ve mentioned here (cough karara cough WHOOOO SAID THAT) because i love them and no one knows them like i know them (katara mmmm…. mmmm….)
i really don’t understand Daryl’s show but could it be to possibly show them using the kid as a cure or something?
Wow, I didn’t read your first post about mischaracterization, but now I want to!! I love how you brought up the infantilization and negative stereotypes of those with disorders and disabilities. Like what you said about bipolar and schizophrenia, but also OCD, or being a mobility aid user. Everyone assumes if you have a physcial disability, you need a wheelchair and can’t use anything else. Anything else is reserved for the elders or “who needs it”. I appreciate you bringing up how a lot of media excuses terrible actions because of a disability or disorder. PEOPLE WITH THESE THINGS CAN BE PROBLEMATIC, TOO. Anywhoooo, I love love loved this post!!!