racial/american bias in Stargate Atlantis?

[tielan]

It's recently come to my notice that the manner in which 'native races' are portrayed on Stargate is, if not racist, then certainly strongly jingoistic.

This is going to focus on the broader perception of races and how they get portrayed in the show - mostly Atlantis, although SG-1 will be in there, too.

Basically, it seems that the native races of Pegasus are either technologically inept (primitive) or 'the bad guys'.

We have societies like the Athosians, who are still in the 'hunter-gatherer' stage of civilisation, who are on the side of the Atlantis expedition but primitive; and at the other end of the scale, we have societies like the Gennii, who are close to the 'information revolution' stage of civilisation, but are at best wary allies, and at worst, frank enemies.

Then there are the Satedans, who must have had a pretty technologically advanced civilisation before the Wraith took them out - Ronon's weaponry speaks to that - but who don't even get a mention on the 'we could pick over their bones and see if they developed something we haven't' scale. Hell, I don't think anyone's mentioned even asking Ronon if they can take apart his weapons to see how they tick.

Granted, Ronon's likely to look at them and say flatly, 'No,' but the man came from a world that nearly fought back against the Wraith! Just because he doesn't speak much doesn't mean he's a savage. He's probably no more of a savage than any man who comes home from his work, sits down in his lounge chair and can't be prevailed on for more than a grunt or a dozen before dinner, let alone bed.

The episode that's supposed to deal with Ronon's background will be interesting: if only because it took them about 30 episodes to even revisit Teyla's background with the Athosians, and they were relegated to a side plot, a funeral, and some very lovely singing by Rachel Luttrell that had almost no relevance to the plot.

The race issue is another thing that's slowly been coming upon me.

SG1 - Teal'c is the 'native guide' - black, primitive people.
SGA - Teyla is the 'native guide' - mixed race, primitive people.
SGA - Aiden is the 'yes, man' - black
SGA - Ronon is the 'grunt and muscle' - with a polynesian background (? I think - but even if not, the point with Teal'c, Teyla and Aiden still stands)

You know, I'm waiting for the episode where they come across an Asiatic civilisation that's either run like the Japanese samurai or full of Asian crime gangs.

It's a bit worrying, not that there are characters who are relegated to the background and they're non-white(other characters are background, too: Janet, Carson, Zelenka, etc), but that the non-white characters seem to be inevitably relegated to the background in the Stargate universe.

To some degree, I'm sure it's symptomatic of TV shows: white people want to watch white people. Still, I find it disturbing that the nominated 'leaders' of the primitive peoples - and therefore their representatives - are almost always non-white. (Plus, the leaders of the 'white people with civilisation' are evil if their cultures aren't.)

Finally, I'm curious about the fact that the 'jumper driver seat is on the left. Not all civilisations drive on the right-hand side of the road. It's like the assumption that people in the Northern Hemisphere have that birds fly south for the winter, and that things get warmer the further south you go.

Atlantis does not necessarily have to be in the northern hemisphere of its planet. I mean, it very well may be - I haven't studied the shots of the planet all that well. But, coming from the other half of the planet (where Christmas is in summer and we build our houses facing north for the best sun) I think it would be cool to have all the people from up north completely turned around by the fact that the sun's path lies northwards and not south, while the people from the southern hemisphere are all "what are you guys going on about?" While secretly snickering behind their hands.

The idea of a culture that influenced Earth (instead of American-Earth influencing it) is intriguing: but it would have been nice to see some of the standards turned upside down - perceptions changed and rearranged - to make people think.

And if you can sandwich some perception adjustment in between entertainment, I don't think that's entirely a bad thing.

Comments

[meyerlemon.livejournal.com]

Uh, whatever. You're white, and you're not an American, so maybe it's vaguely conceivable that you have no idea what the fuck you're talking about, hmm?

If you use "colored" in America or around Americans, people are going to think that you're a racist asshole. Is there something particularly admirable about being thought to be a racist asshole, or about wishing to avoid being thought of as one?

Your last line is a prime example of jerk insurance. If you want to be a jerk, at least have the balls to own it.

[neth-dugan.livejournal.com]

Yup, I'm white. I do get the entire insulting your heratige thing though, having speant a great deal of time growing up around people who resent all of America and spend a great deal of time mocking and insulting it, and me, when they know I'm half American. Even my bloody Head Master did it, and the teachers didn't seem to give a damn when I went to them and complained. Oh, and then lets not get into the 'athiests have no moroals and are all EVIL!!!!!' thing. So, just remember, it's not just non-whites who get insulted by racists and prejudiced people, hmm?

And, by the way, I am American, I just didn't grow up there. I call my mother mom, I celibrate 4th July and Thanksgiving, always have, always will.

Yes, and I didn't say that some find 'colored' a racist term, I don't know why, but I'd have thought a certain other word begining with n was more offensive. It's just the fact that PC is getting way out of hand at times that peeves me, and the fact that no one can seem to stick to one thing. As some one mentioned, the correct 'name' changes fairly often.

And it being admirable to have people think I'm racist? Hell no! I am in no way, shape or form a racist. I don't give a damn if a person is black, white, asian (either from the subcontinant or oriental), native american, from the pacific islands, from the middle east, mixed race or any other racial group you can come up with. I also don't give a damn what religion they are, just so long as they don't try and convert me and pass of theology as science. Teach theology, sure, just as theology for cryin' out loud! It'd be interesting, I'd take that class, I have a GCSE in Religous Studies for Valen's sake...

I. Am. Not. A. Racist.

I just think PC can get way overboard. I think it does go overoard at times.

And, well, if I were a jerk, I'd admit to it. Alas, I am not. And thinking PC can go overboard doesn't equate to being racist. Just like thinking too much really loud music is daft doesn't make you hate rock music, and so on. Not on the same scale, I know, similar idea though. Metaphor.

I will, however, admit to being some an Athiest American/English geek/dork female with a dose of Irish blood on my mother's side, and some other groups so far back it doesn't count really.

[neth-dugan.livejournal.com]

typo: I didn't say that some find 'colored' a racist term should be 'didn't say that some don't find....'.

Though, I'm sure there's more than one typo up on there.

[meyerlemon.livejournal.com]

Well, then you clearly understand the struggle of Americans descended from slaves, and should be able to call them whatever you want.

[neth-dugan.livejournal.com]

Look.... I am not claiming to be black. I am not claiming to be decended from people who were kidnaped from their homes by whites, and at times actually given to whites by tribal leaders, to be used as slaves. I don't think I ever actually claimed that. I am just saying, that there's more than one kind of prejudice out there, and can you please at least get that?

Black people do not have the market on prejudice and racism.

Jewish people probably have suffered prejudice too, what with a rather substantial portion of their people being killed by Hitler, and the neo-nazis still around today. Who, I know, aren't fond of black people either.

And no, I am not claiming to be Jewish or of Jewish decent either (within the last century or so anyway).


Around here, if you're black then, well, generally people say you're black. If you're white, you're white. If you're mixed race... you get the idea. And if you get all the non white groups together, generally the term these days seem to be 'ethnic minorities'.

I also know that I've been friends with more than one non-white person in my time, and all of them would think I was bonkers if I suddenly started refering to them as 'people of colour'.

So, seriously, I know it's a sensative issue over there, is here too but not to the same degree I think. But, get some perspective, yeah?

I do not claim to be black.

I do not claim to understand the emotional impact of struggling for freedom and then equality, which is still a struggle today in many cases.

I do not claim to be the local PC term maker either.


I am just saying, really, that PC can and does at time go so far that it can be absured. And I didn't even say People of Color is absured. I don't get why it's such a magnificent term, especially when it sounds patronising to me, but if you like it, heck, you like it, okay, fair enough.

Doesn't mean that suddenly changing the name of a form of note taking because some guy though it insulted people who were mentally ill isn't slightly daft. And, just to make sure that doesn't insult someone, I'll just go ask a friend of mine who'd have more right to complain about that than either you or me if using 'Brain Storm' when meaning note taking is insulting.

Hang on...

And she's not online. I'll get back to you on that.

[neth-dugan.livejournal.com]

'Probably' as in, well, the sarcastic sense, and also in the sense of 'probably a great deal, OMG, it might just rival yours'

[sgatlantislight.livejournal.com]

It occurs to me that there might also be a bit of a backlash against the PC term "person of color" because it's a rather distinctly American term, which seems an interesting choice in a post about not only racial bias but also Americentrism. Not that I can think of a better, all-inclusive, term, mind, but it does rather smack of Americanism.

It's sort of like the post I read where someone was asking if Rainbow Sun Francks was partly Native American who just didn't get that since he's Canadian the term Native American wasn't really a good one, regardless of whether it was properly PC in the States.

[meyerlemon.livejournal.com]

I find this baffling. Did my original comment say anything but "this term is often perceived to be offensive BY AMERICANS"?

I have always understood the "American" in "Native American" to refer to the continents, not the republic. Even so, I don't really understand what your anecdote has to do with the fact that a word that was used in polite company when you couldn't say "nigger" isn't a terrific, straight-talkin' alternative to something as OMG PC and ANNOYING FOR YOU TO READ as POC.

[sgatlantislight.livejournal.com]

I don't believe I made any statement either in favour of or against the term "colored" in my comment. Indeed, I made no statement, personally or in a broader sense, in favour of or against any terms in my comment-- merely pointed out why there might be some resistance to a term used almost exclusively in the States and mused about whether or not there was a term that would have broader appeal and/or applicability (and admitted to being wanting in that area). I believe if you go back and re-read, you may find that any annoyance on my part at the term "person of color" was something you read into the comment and not something expressed or implied by me.