Race to the Fail - thoughts about racial issues and diversity

[lucilla_1789]

Typical to today's discussion about racism is that none of the participants know what racism means. They mix it with human tribalism and tendency to have mixed reactions on strange things, particularly strange cultures. When we talk about race, we usually talk about culture. When people think they are celebrating cultural diversity, they usually

Comments

[icecreambat]

Sort of related sort of not, but what's your opinion on writing specifically about races/cultures you are not yourself a part of? As in, how far would you agree or disagree with some aspects of postcolonialism, about how representing other cultures through the eyes of western canon is simply enhancing orientalism? (For some reason while reading this I started thinking about Chinua Achebe who was criticized for not being 'authentic enough' to write about Africa... I guess nobody ever wins.)

[lucilla_1789]

I've always had difficulties writing about any culture. I could not write a good story about white Finns today, if my life depended on it, and same goes to every ethnic group in the whole planet. That's why I write fantasy and sci-fi, where I can tackle difficult issues of identity and culture. Or very distant historical story