|
|
Post by Butterscotch on Apr 26, 2010 20:22:48 GMT -5
linkI'm all for diversity, and I like the idea in theory, but Archie comics just loves to add minorities for the sake of adding minorities, and then rarely using them in future stories. I'm also...intrigued by the way that Kevin seems to be spending a lot of time with Jughead: he enters a burger-eating contest against Jughead and in the sample page he tells Juggie that he's gay. Also, Kevin is referred to as the first openly gay character Not the first gay character, the first openly gay character. Now, everyone knows that Jughead doesn't like girls, and there's been a lot of speculation...and oh, what the heck, I'm gonna ship Kevin/Jughead!
|
|
|
|
Post by Simfarmguru on Apr 27, 2010 19:58:06 GMT -5
Oo O...K... I think I'm spooked...
|
|
|
|
Post by Butterscotch on Apr 29, 2010 19:07:10 GMT -5
Yeah. I was surprised. I hope they handle it well
|
|
|
|
Post by Simfarmguru on Apr 29, 2010 20:02:36 GMT -5
Too true >_>
|
|
|
|
Post by Snake on May 2, 2010 1:20:20 GMT -5
I don't read Archie Comics, but I'm going to wait to see how this is handled. If it's a bunch of stereotypes then...fail.
|
|
Rouge
Medium Milk
Posts: 75 
|
Post by Rouge on May 2, 2010 17:09:36 GMT -5
That is so exciting! I'm very happy to see a gay appear in well known American comic.
|
|
|
|
Post by TBustah! on May 7, 2010 4:40:57 GMT -5
Honestly, I don't see the point. It's not like the target audience is unaware that homosexuality exists. Even if they weren't, it doesn't make it a good idea. Remember that HIV-positive muppet on Sesame Street a few years back? Kids should be free to just be kids, let them get worked up about serious issues like this later on.
Why introduce a gay character just for the sake of introducing a gay character, even if he doesn't embody a bunch of stereotypes?
If they're trying to make homosexuality more socially acceptable, then they're going about it the wrong way. Even if this guy isn't totally flamboyant, it's still not going to work because his sexual preference still seems to be his defining trait. Even if they develop him as a person, people are always going to think of him as "the gay one" because that's how he was introduced, and because of the stir his introduction caused.
Dinosaur Comics did it right with Utahraptor: yes, he's gay, but as the author put it, he has "interests outside of being gay". He's not totally in your face about it, in fact, it's rarely mentioned. It isn't his defining trait. When you think of him, you think of him as being level-headed and somewhat preachy.
|
|
|
|
Post by Simfarmguru on May 7, 2010 10:21:35 GMT -5
That expresses my feelings fairly will TBustah, thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by Butterscotch on May 7, 2010 21:46:27 GMT -5
Wasn't that Muppet on a foreign version of Sesame Street though? In a country where many kids do have HIV?
But I mostly agree with your point. As I said, Archie comics likes to introduce minorities for the sake of, well, having a minority. Aside from Chuck, Nancy and Valerie, few of them seem to stick, because being a minority is their defining character trait.
|
|
|
|
Post by TBustah! on May 8, 2010 0:25:57 GMT -5
Yes, it was in the South African version of Sesame Street, but does it really matter? Kids are more or less the same the world over.
I realize that Sesame Street is an educational show, and as such it SHOULD be teaching kids about the world around them (in this case, there are indeed many children in South Africa with HIV and AIDS), but what is more important: teaching them how to get along in the world around them by teaching them math, how to read, and basic social skills, or reminding them of the misery in the world around them?
Once again, kids should just be free to be kids. Let them worry about how messed up the world can be when they're older.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pickle on May 29, 2010 19:01:50 GMT -5
Not that I'm trying to tear down your point (Which I do agree with in the regards that declaring a character gay is making him simply that now), but you keep saying kids. I thought the Archie comics were geared to young adults and teens since it is a high-school setting? That's a totally different age group then children.
|
|
|
|
Post by Butterscotch on May 29, 2010 21:32:11 GMT -5
Despite the high school setting, I think the target audience is pre-teens.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pickle on May 29, 2010 21:41:23 GMT -5
Despite the high school setting, I think the target audience is pre-teens. Okay, middle schoolers. Still, not really children-children in the sense of sesame street. |
|
|
|
Post by TBustah! on May 30, 2010 16:44:00 GMT -5
I just meant people under 18 in general.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pickle on May 31, 2010 23:08:00 GMT -5
Unfortuantly, that's a point I can't totally agree with. Like I said, I am will you about introducing a character just for the point of saying "Hey look, a gay guy!" It downplays the character.
But, comparing middle-schoolers to pre-schools in the same category as children isn't quite accurate. Perhaps it's because I haven't felt like like kid since I was about fifteen, but I know there is a difference.
I'll put it to you this way. If my six year old sister came up to me and wanted to talk about the happy people, I would not speak to her about it. However, if my twelve year old cousin came up to me and asked, I may direct her to speak with her parents or if she had opinion, I would listen.
|
|
[M:9]
