Inclusive Optics
Integrating wide ranging outward characteristics of gender, ethnicity, religion, age, and color in a natural and empowering way can help to normalize diversity in media. Integrating diversity into images to depict all facets of life will allow media creators to beat the drum of inclusion. Choosing to not do this, erases whole sets of the population from the fabric of society and culture. Falling back on tropes can also be harmful as they can propagate stereotypes. Included on this page are some examples of what I believe to be inclusive images.
Color, Gender, and Ethnicity
Combining diverse outward characteristics like gender, ethnicity, religion, and color in a natural and empowering way can help to normalize these populations in media.
I think diversity within diversity is more authentic. The Diatribe spoken-word poetry troupe sport uncontrived fashion choices that include a Hawaiian shirt, an un-hooded hoody as well as dreadlock, tight crop, and bald heads.
This video screen capture is from the 'This is The Diatribe' video (external link) created by KCAD students Mallory Heiges and Sean McManaman as part of The Epic Project.
This poker card deck replaces white European royalty with a young African American girl, a Latino infant, a female Egyptian leader, and an elderly Muslim woman.
The card designs are from the Epic Identity Deck project (external link) in order by KCAD students Nick Paul, Hansol Kim, Kaleb Reynolds, and Mayu Yoshida.
Age Diversity
Frail, out of touch, demented, technologically challenged, resistant to change. These are just some of the ways mainstream media enjoys portraying the elderly. Some alternatives might be; wise, experienced, engaged, leading, and valued. These are more appropriate, less demeaning, and even more interesting. And, they respect humans of "a certain age". On the flip-side, we have the irresponsible, overly emotional, clueless youth. It's a wonder that they are able to juggle six school subjects, buses, extracurricular activities, personal interests, and family obligations. But they can. And, that makes them amazing. Let's make our media an "all ages" celebration.
I hope that showing positive intergenerational connections can help promote mutual respect between them.
This is a detail from a website header. Photography and design by Bill Fischer.
Retro Style makes old cool. And, it's never out of fashion. I think retro objects with human characteristics are great stand-ins for the senior class.
Museum poster illustration by Bill Fischer.
Body Diversity
'Body Type' and 'Body Image' are important to represent in a realistic and non-negatively-stereotypical way. The current media world too often leverages unrealistic body ideals to sell products and elevate celebrity stature. Body shaming is, unfortunately, pervasive in much of our culture. Mental health conditions, such as eating disorders, and depression can stem from individuals with negative body image issues. I think discussions around body types should, perhaps, be limited to those centered on physical and mental health-related topics as well as story-telling where body types are integral to the plausibility of physical actions.
This trio of football referees are diverse in skin tone and body type. They are equally dynamic and authoritative.
Game character designs by Susan Bonner for the First and Goal mobile game developed by Underbite Games.
The photo employed in this image serendipitously captures a variety of body types, which lends it authenticity. Many different kinds of people may recognize versions of 'themselves' amongst the participates.
Photo illustration by Bill Fischer
Redefined Beauty and Empowerment
Cultural and social forces exert an outsized influence on how we perceive power and beauty. Our lives are permeated with images created and chosen to evoke status, strength, competency, and attractiveness. We are each exposed to a steady drumbeat of images that serve to define how we think and feel about each other. We artists and designers can try to imagine how we would want to be portrayed if we were someone else.
The Humanae photography project by artist Angélica Dass (external link) attempts to to document humanity’s true colors rather than the untrue labels “white”, “red”, “black” and “yellow” associated with race. It is available to the public via the website and is valuable tool for illustrators and graphic artists.
This found illustration of elderly persons shows various forms of mobility aids. It does not fall back on the wheelchair as the standard depiction. Not every senior requires a mobility aid. I changed the head angle on all but one to look forward energetically, not defeated by their disability.
Illustration by unknown, manipulated by Bill Fischer
Unrealism
What does a character that could represent anyone, look like? Is it appropriate to avoid identifiers like ethnicity, color, and religion altogether? Does it make sense to be all-exclusive in order to be all-inclusive?
These cube shaped characters have blue skin. If you have a limited number of characters to work with, this could be a strategy for being inclusive through the exclusion of realistic skin tones and features.
Illustrated frames from a short educational comic strip about expectations by Bill Fischer.
This character is a cartoon chicken. Anthropomorphic design may be a way to remove many aspects that would normally define a fully human character. This could be useful to maximize the number of persons that might be able to relate to a character.
This is a screen capture from a short animated film called 'The Flying Chicken' by Bill Fischer.