One thing I’ve learned about the arts industry is that they love Blackness as a concept and Black people as characters, but not actual Black people. I’ve seen more nonblack people get boosted and or hired for drawing Black characters or ppl *well* than actual Black folks - ThreadSky

shanfiction.bsky.social • 120 days ago

One thing I’ve learned about the arts industry is that they love Blackness as a concept and Black people as characters, but not actual Black people.

I’ve seen more nonblack people get boosted and or hired for drawing Black characters or ppl *well* than actual Black folks

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poobit-pespillo.bsky.social•120 days ago

i think this also contributes to a very conformist environment in the workplace because the industry will hold the belief that black creatives will make more on hands demands for better work environments and so on, it shows when a writing room doesnt have the same diversity of the "product"

bumplebeee.bsky.social•120 days ago

Clock it!

nearsh0t.bsky.social•120 days ago

It always feel like “woah you really capture the essence of those creatures” high key

paradiseinvite.bsky.social•120 days ago

this feels like dialogue from Metaphor 😭😭

curlyqueued.bsky.social•120 days ago

I mean you’re not wrong but gotdamn lol

shanfiction.bsky.social•120 days ago

HIGH KEY! Yes

curlyqueued.bsky.social•120 days ago

God yeah. I’ve seen this in the indie comics scene especially over the past…well, forever, but especially after 2020. Not sure what to do about it except support other Black creators (and cry lol)

shanfiction.bsky.social•120 days ago

Yooo, that summer of 2020 really highlighted how much of an act it all is and how much folks in power do not care. Supporting one another has kinda been the default since the dawn of time, it just sucks having it so blatantly thrown in your face

shanfiction.bsky.social•120 days ago

Over the years I’ve shifted to making art for myself. It made me be real w/ myself & my desires. When you’re young in the industry, we sometimes have a habit of chasing that approval and acceptance: b/c of capitalism, survival, etc…but you come to learn how disposable an industry sees you and FAST

shanfiction.bsky.social•120 days ago

I don’t regret my career, I did what I had to do to get by, I just regret those moments where I was chasing approval & put so many of my feelings to the side, so many micro aggressions (& straight up racism) to the far corners of my brain for the sake of “making art”

I’d go back & protect young me.

shanfiction.bsky.social•120 days ago

My relationship with art is a lot healthier now due to the fact I took steps in making my relationship with myself healthier. Distance helped a ton but also just time and growing older.

Aging and detachment from certain things has done wonders for myself and my new fond love for art again.

skeletonhouse.bsky.social•120 days ago

only partly related, but ive def felt comfort accepting that i dont need to “make it” & can be perfectly happy making the art i want for myself, working a regular non-art job & engaging w my community locally… the distance is definitely healthy…

shanfiction.bsky.social•120 days ago

Idk why I saw this way later, but 100% agree. I noticed my art also improved once I started doing other activities & hobbies. Explored interests not directly tied to what I do. Joining local queer clubs w/ friends & new folks. “Making it” started being put at a lower level of my tier of wants/needs

skeletonhouse.bsky.social•120 days ago

yeah god all of this… & tbh i feel like when you were doing those quick/loose little character drawings, i could def feel how much fun you were having!! its so different to just hit the gas & start drawing vs. planning out a whole illustration that has to cover specific Concepts

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