So, we've all heard about the fiasco caused by Jynx's original appearance being uncanny similarity with Blackface actors. Critics tore Jynx apart when that whole ordeal began.
With the advent of 5th generation, there are two characters(so far) that I believe will set off another drama storm similar to the one that occurred with Jynx. They are Aloe and Iris.
I think Aloe is very characteristic of the Mammy archetype. She isn't necessarily a servent, but she does have the appearance of one based on her attire:
It is very similar to Hattie McDaniel's character of "Mammy" in Gone With the Wind:
Next, we have Iris. Iris can be described as a sort of wild child. She's the type of girl who likes to climb trees, swing from vines, and seems to be aggressive in certain situations. These aspects, coupled with her darker complexion might offend some and again, lead to more drama on the grounds that she may represent a "savage".
I, myself, don't believe these are intentional aspects of characters, rather products of innocent coincidence, or a cultural misunderstanding, as Japan may not be familiar with these cultural phenomena, just as Jynx was meant to represent Ganguro in Japanese culture, but when she came over to the US, viewers saw her design in a different light.
I'd like to apologize if I offended anyone in anyway with my post. These are simply observations of these characters that I believe could catch some flack from critics of the series.
With the advent of 5th generation, there are two characters(so far) that I believe will set off another drama storm similar to the one that occurred with Jynx. They are Aloe and Iris.
I think Aloe is very characteristic of the Mammy archetype. She isn't necessarily a servent, but she does have the appearance of one based on her attire:
It is very similar to Hattie McDaniel's character of "Mammy" in Gone With the Wind:
Next, we have Iris. Iris can be described as a sort of wild child. She's the type of girl who likes to climb trees, swing from vines, and seems to be aggressive in certain situations. These aspects, coupled with her darker complexion might offend some and again, lead to more drama on the grounds that she may represent a "savage".
I, myself, don't believe these are intentional aspects of characters, rather products of innocent coincidence, or a cultural misunderstanding, as Japan may not be familiar with these cultural phenomena, just as Jynx was meant to represent Ganguro in Japanese culture, but when she came over to the US, viewers saw her design in a different light.
I'd like to apologize if I offended anyone in anyway with my post. These are simply observations of these characters that I believe could catch some flack from critics of the series.
