Just so you know.

[roxy]

I don't like Lana.
I'm not too crazy about Pete either, except in fic.

Comments

[miss-saigon.livejournal.com]

I'm so out of touch with SV fandom, is there race wank about Lana now?

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

yes. Some people think that calling her a squirrel relates in some way to her being Asian, they think that for some people disliking her isn't because she's a terribly written character, and the actress isn't that skilled, it's because she's an Asian woman. I never made that connection, and I dislike someone telling me I'm racist when they have no idea what I've personally experienced in terms of racism.

[juxtoppozed.livejournal.com]

If you want to read what I said in my own words, it's my latest entry. Because it most certainly isn't what it's being strawmanned here as, as lanahate=racism. I wish we could have candid conversations about this stuff without the kneejerk defensiveness and reduction of all lana hate to racism just to delegitimized the argument as "you're telling me I hate Lana because she's asian I'm racist" the "omg you don't know the character from the actress" screaming.

[(Anonymous)]

I understand that you're not saying Lana hate=racism. I believe what you're saying is that the way people refer to her, the language they use to refer to her could be interpreted as racist. If I've read you right, that kind of behavior is not something I'd ever be able to agree with. In fact, not only do I find racist remarks abhorrent, I also find character bashing repellent, and I know it has the potential to be harmful and upsetting to some. I say I don't like Lana, and I pretty much leave it at that. I've written her as a thoughtless, rather careless person, but that's the vibe I get from her. I wrote her as a monster, but I've written Clark that way too. This is the sum total of my feeling for her--as a character in a TV show I write fanfic about.

Now, I do call the girl Hamsterina. I never meant for it to be insulting or hurtful. We at home have a tendency to give nick-names and I thought it was kind of cute, because Hamsters are cute, and it referred to a particular expression that she made frequently, early on. Sure it was meant to poke fun—I don’t like her. But I swear, it never ever crossed my mind that it might in some way be taken as a racial slur, and honestly, I still don't understand that but I'm more than willing to listen quietly if you'd want to explain to me.

If you'd care to e-mail me to talk personally, I'd like that, or if you'd rather keep the discussion to this page, that's okay too.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, that was me, I didn't realize I wasn't signed on!

[juxtoppozed.livejournal.com]

Hey! I'm sorry I'm getting back so late...I'm trying to pack up to go home for T-day. But I absolutely would love to take you up on your offer soon. Also, I think http://juxtoppozed.livejournal.com/132425.html explains some of the background for the rodent/asian associatons (in conversation with the other things I mentioned in the original entry, including Lana not being "All American", and the body comments)...made me raise the discussion. This is not about you or me or one or two people employing this, not about Lana hate, but about why some of these *motifs* are fandom-wide in terms of how she's described. Sometimes images convey what people are trying to say better than words...thanks again :) Look forward to chatting soon

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Hi! I'm sorry, I did read this--I apologize for taking so long to reply. I did go to your last post and was horrified by the images there. I look forward to speaking with you.