so i think there are a few different reasons why the fantasy racism subplot in #ShadowAndBone doesn't work, but it mostly boils down to: it FEELS like racism written for the white gaze (1/)

https://twitter.com/yourtitakate/status/1385792811237142530

there are a few ways of engaging with race in SFF worlds. three very prominent modes in recent stories have been: A) normalisation, or what we sometimes call "color-conscious" casting, B) SPECIFICALLY anti-racist/colonialist themes (2/)

ok but i just want a story where a princess is arranged to marry another royal in a neighbouring country for political reasons. and yes. ok. sure. our princess is responsible and has a strong, strong sense of duty. but when she gets there the royal isn't a prince—it's a princess? clearly there was a mistake. surely they meant this girl's elder brother? who's basically prince charming anyway? i mean, this new princess. she... she isn't the *fairest* lady this side of the sea, she's a little chubby, a little too loud and overbearing for her liking.

my friend came out as bisexual to me today.

we used to know each other from church, though i stopped going bc i haven't really sorted through a lot of issues i have with my faith. i'm still... so stunned. the sheer amount of courage that it took to come out to me— (1/9) a girl he just knew from church, someone who just occasionally shows up for the college fellowship meetings—must've been so unbelievably immense. i've known i was queer for two years, and i haven't dared tell any of my friends from church at all. (2/9)