kristin | race fail is full of fail, aka this is a rant (but with gifts!)

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rants are cathartic

race fail is full of fail, aka this is a rant (but with gifts!)

i do not generally read sf/f anymore. not since high school, except a few beloved authors i keep up with. i had been considering getting back into it, but have decided not to. right now my list of authors i would be willing to read is far shorter than the list i am now avoiding.

maybe it is because i had been paying so much attention to racefail, to everyone (at least outside of flock) in fandom decrying the pros, but i got super angry earlier looking at the fandom steel cage match. i saw the qualifying round, voted without really looking at the results, then checked back for the first round and noticed my options.

now i don't know all the fandoms, but using wikipedia i found (not surprised, but disappointed) there are seven characters of color who made it through to the first round, two of which (Cameron from T:SCC and Michael on Prison Break) are not coded as CoC. That is out of 48 characters, so roughly 15%. discounting cameron and michael, 12.5%. as an aside, there are 19 women. all in all, not surprising, and not as bad as it could be.

the issue i have is when you look at the results so far. only one CoC (the wonderful Gus of Psych) is winning. only one. (of the women only 7 are winning, none of whom are CoC.)

i think it is a pretty safe bet a white male will win this. now i know the CoC are often underwritten, suffering from lack of knowledge on the part of the creators, shoehorned in and under utilized. i know this. but still, it is a bit disappointing.

people, there are characters of color and they are awesome! take a look at

nextian's characters of color yenta meme!

.

Now for the gift. tell me about your favorite CoC and i will make you an icon of them. (i would appreciate it if you could provide an image if it isn't a fandom i know.) depending on how many people reply, you might get more than one.

eta: i'm now unlocking this post
eta the second: gus didnt make it to the next round, so the sweet 16 is all white, with four women, at 25%, when fandom is 95%(guesstimate) female. looking at the results, it looks like there will be one woman (VMars) in the top 8 for certain (is she just that awesome or is it the fact that she hasn't been up against a guy before? i really hope it is the former, because she is pretty fucking awesome.) and one possibly (lorelei gilmore).

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Oh, RaceFail... I'm a couple of days behind on following

rydra_wong's links, but I'll be catching up soon. What good I can say that's come out of all that horrible fail is the new writing and fandom and publishing projects by POC like

verb_noire. As a woman of color, I'm disheartened yet unsurprised about what's gone on with the fandom steel cage match; Summer Glau (who plays Cameron on T:SCC) is non-POC, to my knowledge. I remember back when I was becoming disillusioned with Firefly I looked her up, but there's hardly one Asian actor who has lines in English in either the TV series or the film. I'm so glad for people like you and

nextian who are pushing back against the long tide of Everybody Loves the White Guys Best. Which inspired me to think about my favorite character of color, Detective Meldrick Lewis... and since I love him so much, I ended up writing more than I originally meant to. If you're still up for icon-making, I would love textless iconery of Lewis. I have a selection of images here (http://pics.livejournal.com/ticketsonmyself/gallery/000046qw). ScrapBook is goofy sometimes, so if the gallery or any images don't appear, just hit reload a few times until they do. It really does work!

(This was originally supposed to be a comment to

nextian's meme, so I've mostly tried to avoid spoilers; I didn't finish it for the other characters I wanted to write about, though I may yet do so...)

The TV series of my heart is Homicide: Life on the Street (David Simon's stint with television prior to The Wire) through about season 4, episode 18 or 19. (I, uh, take most episodes in the later seasons as my painkiller-induced fever dream or something.) I love the early seasons, before everything started coming down and while the show has more of an ensemble feel—though that's more true of seasons 1 and 2—I totally love the first season finale, "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." By ensemble I mean the overall sense of a cranky family-like group with believable tensions related to race, class, and gender running through it, but which works on a daily basis and which, almost despite themselves, can inspire individual members to exceed themselves, to really DO BETTER. As Frank Pembleton says far more eloquently in season 4, and convinces Tim Bayliss to stay because of it! That type of ensemble feel is one possible gold standard of what I look for in a cast of characters.

I love Meldrick Lewis and his partnership with Mike Kellerman (even though I couldn't find any good pictures of them together!): their sometimes-grumpy but mostly good-natured banter in season 4; the great sense of initial awkwardness and the sharp edges that end up jostling together and clicking in a way that works; the tensions between them that the show keeps sparking; the almost easy, casual, real closeness they achieve despite those tensions, before the end of the season. I'm really fond of their chemistry. Whether it's comfortable, bluntly challenging, or volatile, actors Clark Johnson and Reed Diamond sell it. I like that Kellerman really, really wants to be partners—however you want to define that, and I'd totally push that limit, just like Kellerman keeps pushing it!—and Lewis isn't immune to that. There's a lot that goes unspoken, but that's a lot that's still real.

I think Johnson shows us that Lewis loses something after what happens in early season 3, and while Lewis can't quite get that same joie de vivre back—at the beginning of season 1, he proposes starting a mail-order adult diaper business as a second career, or flooding Memorial Stadium and turning it into a giant aquatic theme park; the other detectives in the unit treat his proposals with a certain gravity despite the joke factor, and little moments like that help make early Homicide such a joy—but in his partnership with Kellerman, Lewis slides into a new role. He's the older partner, the sometime voice of experience, even when Kellerman scoffs at him, and Lewis sometimes rags him back.

Clark Johnson has chemistry with everyone, and Lewis has memorable moments with people who aren't partnered with him as well. In the season 2 opener, "See No Evil," Lewis has a crisis of conscience that includes a shoving match with fellow detective Beau Felton across the men's room. Lewis isn't the featured character in "See No Evil"—he enters the story halfway through—but he steals the show in pivotal scenes. In that episode and in general, despite Lewis's tendency toward resisting emotional intimacy, Clark Johnson's marvelous facial expressions and body language show us something captivating about what's going on under the surface.

Understated but complex emotions! Dry wit and wisecracking banter! Partners who have conflicted and intense relationships with each other; who also grow into each other at the same time! Who sometimes just go and have a barbecue on Kellerman's boat! I'm finally getting to quote Terry Pratchett's description of Watch Captain Sam Vimes, from Men at Arms:

Vimes wanted to say that he liked traipsing around dark wet streets, but it would be no use. He didn't like it much. It was just what he'd always done. He thought about his badge in the same way he thought about his nose. He didn't love it or hate it. It was just his badge.

In many ways, that's the Homicide spirit, and Meldrick Lewis, in a nutshell. (And for a moment there I had a happy vision of Clark Johnson circa 1994 playing Sam Vimes in a screen adaptation...)

Some Lewis quotes through season 4, episode 18 ("Scene of the Crime"):

LEWIS: Refresh my memory. Was the name Abraham Lincoln up on the Board today?

LEWIS: Baltimore, home of the misdemeanor homicide.

LEWIS: Don't open your mouth.
MUNCH: Me? Open my mouth?
LEWIS: No, no. Promise me. I gotta hear it from you. Say, "I'll be good."
MUNCH: I promise I'll be good.
LEWIS: Oh, and there's one other thing. Don't wear that tie with the little Buddhas on it. It's ugly.
MUNCH: And what's wrong with that tie?
LEWIS: I wouldn't give directions to a guy wearing a tie like that.
MUNCH: Well, guess what? That just happens to be my lucky tie. I love that tie. Felicia gave me that tie.
LEWIS: Well, there you go. I rest my case.

LEWIS: You're a writer and you had to ask me for a pen?

LEWIS: Lemme tell you one thing, all right? You gotta do everything I say.
KELLERMAN: Well, there's nothing I won't do... but some things are gonna cost you extra.

KELLERMAN: You know, he shouldn't leave a department vehicle running like that.
LEWIS: Yeah, could get stolen.
KELLERMAN: Lieutenant said take the first car in.
LEWIS: We shouldn't.
KELLERMAN: You're right.
LEWIS [as they pull away in the car]: Grand theft auto, baby.
PEMBLETON [running after it]: You sons of bitches!

LEWIS: Iced tea keeps me in a summertime frame of mind.

AL-HADJ [referring to KELLERMAN]: How can you work with him?
LEWIS: What? Who, him?
AL-HADJ: He hates us. Why do his bidding?
LEWIS: Nah, he hates you. And most of the time, he does my bidding.

okay, this was an awesome reply! homicide has been on my list for a while, though i haven't yet found a convenient source. and this is inspiring me to start pricing to buy, even before seeing the eps. (something i almost never ever do.)

i hadn't thought summer was a poc either, but apparently fox (the nextwork) counts her as a poc in their annual 'look and see how diverse we are' survey. so... who knows. but it is for certain that she is not coded as a poc, which is why i qualified her inclusion.

also, i will totally make you an icon(s), though i'm not sure how long it will take me. (i'm being bad and replying from work and i'm going to montreal this weekend, but def. within this week.)

I received the Homicide season 1 & 2 box set and the season 3 set as very special presents and felt lucky for it! More so as I watched and got hooked. I believe it's possible to get all seasons except the last and seventh one online (even possible to get the TV movie that comes after the seventh season that way)... though it takes a long long time, going by my experience with trying to get slightly more than one season's worth that way. If you're interested I can PM or e-mail you (that is, supposing you don't already know all about it).

Looks like I've learned something today - that Fox survey is news to me, interesting! But yeah, I agree that Cameron's not coded as POC.

Hooray and thank you! I look forward to the icon(s). I have next to no skills in that arena; I am like the safety scissors of Photoshop users when other people are using surgical lasers.

I wish you a safe and hopefully restful weekend!

have two icons:

let me know if you want text on either of these!

edited because there really are two icons, not just one posted twice!

Whee, thank you! Textless is just fine. I only have the one space open right now, but I saved both icons!

Oh, and I just looked up how much my H:LotS box sets cost... seasons 1&2 are in one set, which cost $17 used, and season 3 cost $14 new.

also, i hope you don't mind, but i just friended you.

Always glad to make new friends! And uh, when I've finished overhauling my lj (soon!) you'll be able to see something besides old trivia in there.

Hey, I just met attempt_unique when I found her icons from The Wire. I asked her if she had also watched Homicide, which has long been my favorite show. She mentioned your name as someone who loves the show. It's evident that you do from what you've written here. I'm a fan of Clark Johnson in particular -- not just for his work as Lewis on Homicide, but for his directing skills and savvy. I've heard him interviewed, and he is this amazing, interesting, well-traveled guy who can tell a story. And he's attractive. Reed is great, too. I love the two-parter -- was it "Fire, Parts I and II" -- where Gee invites him to join the squad after he solves the case: Kellerman: "Why'd ya kill the dog?"

The marriage dynamic between Pemberton and Bayliss never failed to enlighten and amuse. I also loved the Beau/Kay partnership. And Peter Gerety helped make the later seasons watchable.

So, are there a lot of fans of Wire and Homicide around????

I am so, so pleased to find another person who's a fan of both The Wire and Homicide! And all the things you've said about Clark Johnson! And bwah, Reed Diamond as Kellerman! I love that moment in Fire, if that's the episode. Frank and Tim! Beau and Kay! So much of what I love about Homicide. I admit, I have a love/hate relationship with the later seasons: I try to love, they seem to hate me. But Peter Gerety is a fine actor!

I wish I knew of more fans of The Wire and Homicide around! The relatively small Homicide fandom seems to have gone mostly defunct way before I started watching on DVD, whereas The Wire fandom is small if fervent—as you probably know. Here, have a few story recommendations, in the event you haven't seen these before:

In the Land of Pleasant Living (http://2ndary-author.livejournal.com/13698.html?thread=92546&format=light#cutid1). “Sometimes, I think we’re totally lost.” Short. In season 2, Frank tries to figure out where he and Tim are going for their latest call. Baltimore's streets are confusing, but his fellow homicide detectives are ready to help... whether Pembleton wants it or not. Perfect dialogue and characterization, with the by-turns funny and macabre, gritty-streets atmosphere of the show.

The Birthday Girl (http://schism.tktv.net/stories/birthday.html). "Happy birthday, Detective Scooby Doo." Short. Kay has a birthday in season 2. Perfect dialogue and characterization: funny, brisk, and just sweet enough, like a missing scene from the show.

The Hustle (http://yuletidetreasure.org/archive/39/thehustle.html). Kima is the new McNulty. AMAZING take on Kima after season 5, and on everything that's come before for her and for Jimmy. Pitch-perfect in the spirit of the show: the nuances of dialogue, characterization, every last thing.

And here's a couple more for Frank and Tim (who do seem to get the most fan attention... but never fear, Meldrick and Mike, I still love you!).

Five-Finger Discount (http://romanticalgirl.livejournal.com/686906.html?format=light&mode=reply#cutid1). “Is that what you’re going to do? Give up your career as a cop to be a hand model because some hairdresser told you to?” Very short. That conversation they must have had about Tim's haircut in season 4. Pitch-perfect, with the funny conversational cul-de-sacs so characteristic of their relationship and Homicide dialogue in general.

Shell Casing (http://www.geocities.com/ducklie/11cents/stories/shell.html). My very favorite part:

"Then say you're perplexed. Don't 'hmmmm' me. You're starting to
sound like Howard," Pembleton said. "The English language is a great
invention, use it."

"Maybe Clary picked up the casing after he shot him," Bayliss said.

"He didn't have it on him when we picked him up," Pembleton said.

"He could have dumped it on the street. Or in that bar."

"Why would he drop the gun with his prints all over it almost on top of
the body, then stop to pick up the casing, and then flee in a panic?"
Pembleton asked.

"He didn't know what he was doing, Frank. He freaked out after he shot
Ramsey. People do weird things when they're under stress," Bayliss
said as he kept scanning the carpet.

"I don't," Pembleton said.

"Yeah, but I don't think you're a regular person," Bayliss said.

A mini-casefile set in season 5. Practically perfect in every way, especially the ending!

As am I -- pleased to meet another fan of both shows. Although I can be rather fannish, this wasn't the case back when Homicide was on the air. And now, most of the comm activity is past tense. However, I'd love it if we could friend each other and perhaps discuss the shows from time to time. If that is kosher, just go ahead and friend me, and I'll take that as an "OK."

You know, I've not read ANY fanfic for either The Wire or Homicide. I'm a writer -- working on a novel now, but formerly a journalist -- and I did write a bit of fanfic for the House fandom in 2005 - 7, give or take. But I seldom find time to read FF. I must check this stuff out, though. I'd be very tempted to write a character study of Stringer Bell.

Thanks for the recs and the conversation.

Sure! People who are fans of both shows seem few and far between in the circles in which I travel; I'm mostly still at the stage of incoherent, nonverbal flailing with The Wire (probably not helped by how my pain medication tends to kick in during the evening, when I've watched the show), but I'm happy to friend.

A friend of mine who's not on LJ followed a similar path: she used to be a journalist, but quit to write a YA novella. Hats off to you and your ongoing labors!

If you don't have much free time, "In the Land of Pleasant Living" and "The Birthday Girl" are under three pages each, and "Five-Finger Discount" (linked in my second comment of recs) is under two pages, so those are quick reads. (And if anyone reads this comment and is thinking about getting into Homicide, the first two stories contain no spoilers, and "Five-Finger Discount"—which is actually set in season 5; my typo earlier—includes one general spoiler for the end of S4. "Shell Casing" has three spoilers through early S5.)

Ooh, I would totally read a Stringer Bell character study.

Thanks for the conversation!

No, wait, correction of my earlier correction: "Five-Finger Discount" is set in mid-season 4. Ahaha.

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race fail is full of fail, aka this is a rant (but with gifts!)

rant for the win! (part 1)

rant for the win! (part 2 and final!)

Re: rant for the win! (part 2 and final!)

Re: rant for the win! (part 2 and final!)

icon delivery!

Re: icon delivery!

H:LotS

Re: rant for the win! (part 1)

Re: rant for the win! (part 1)

Re: rant for the win! (part 1)

Re: rant for the win! (part 1)

Re: rant for the win! (part 1)

Re: rant for the win! (part 1)

Re: rant for the win! (part 1)

Re: rant for the win! (part 1)