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(1)Earlier this month, II posted a pride tweet about Paintbrush - but it, just like the show, avoided saying the word nonbinary, instead opting for the 'Option C' metaphor.
This resurfaced some feelings I have about PB's portrayal on the show as a whole that I'd like to discuss
This resurfaced some feelings I have about PB's portrayal on the show as a whole that I'd like to discuss
(2)In trying to pinpoint the aspects where Inanimate Insanity faltered in terms of representation and the aspects it did well we can hopefully begin seeing better and more plentiful rep in future attempts by other shows - rep that doesn't come attached to a lot of problems.
(3)It's worth prefacing this thread that if you find comfort in PB being nonbinary that you are obviously not wrong to do so. As much as we should always ask for more and better rep, and not be just satisfied w/ small attempts, PB has undeniably already been good for some people)
(4)I drafted this thread June 5th, and have been meaning to post it on main for a while, but timing issues, and more important topics to talk about pushed this back. This is meant to be a conversation on rep rather than a critique of the show, though, so maybe this distance helps
(5)For starters, the show never uses the word nonbinary, or has Paintbrush state their preferred pronouns - opting for the vague 'C, none of the above' approach. This is a problem for multiple reasons - it paints anything outside of the binary as a single 'option',
(6), it allows for plausible deniability from bigots or people who haven't been exposed to nonbinary identities, it creates confusion (as shortly after the episode a lot of people still didn't know how to refer to Paintbrush), it's 'sugarcoating' someone's identity, as if
(7)to make it more presentable to producers (something Inanimate Insanity shouldn't well - be dealing with as a web cartoon), among others. After Paintbrush was treated as the butt of 'what gender are they' jokes, jokes already out of place in an object society,
(8), being vague doesn't really -work- here. It's possible II taught more kids to make 'weird gender' jokes than it taught them about (and to be accepting of) nonbinary identities, if they weren't already exposed to them in other ways before.
(9)To see the vague 'option C' be repeated on a pride month, this long after the episode's release, is rather bad - as it implies any lessons about that haven't been learned, and that the 'cleverness' of the metaphor is more important than actually saying the name of the identity
(10)Being nonbinary is also not a single unified experience, of course, so someone (that's not PB talking about their own experiences with gender) going 'C) none of the above' makes it a 'singular third option' - when identities aren't about turning the binary into the ternary.
(11)And one additional thing is that going 'a lot of the cast doesn't even -know- there's more than two options' kinda implies that everyone else needs to, you know, be exposed to and learn about them to be accepting as well, but Inanimate Insanity never really touches on that.
(12)Instead, the moment of 'learning' feels limited -just- to the coming out scene; and Paintbrush is booted immediately after it for the sad payoff, which has a -huge- number of problems attached to it.
(13)The obvious one is that 'shock' reveals, especially last minute ones, of gender/sexuality, are bad. Not only that means we dont have the rep in the show anymore right after it's introduced, but it also limits those identities to the moments the show wants to talk about them
(14)This also makes Paintbrush's identity less a real part of themselves, something they had to think about over the duration of the show (and more); and makes them being nonbinary more just a catalyst -for- the sad/bonding moment.
(15)Paintbrush being nonbinary is less important for the learning experience, less important to truly realize the character, and more important to close out the friendship arc between them and Lightbulb, before the vote makes you cry as Paintbrush is voted off.
(16)The problems of putting the sad payoff above all - and putting the tugging at the heartstrings over making sense and over the characters themselves - is exarcebated by the fact that Paintbrush's elimination doesn't even make sense and match with the rest of the episode.
(17)A huge chunk of that episode is dedicated to Test Tube and Lightbulb understanding each other, and Paintbrush is only eliminated because they don't end up voting together because of a throwaway 'baseball is a geebweezer' scene.
(18)As the show presents itself to us more and more as a competitive, dramatic and strategically-driven game; it has to trample its messaging and tone -just- to get the sad payoff it wants. To kick off Paintbrush immediately after their identity is kinda revealed. And that bites.
(19)A character's identity shouldn't exist for the sake of closing out an arc or something like that - which brings us to the next few problems - that Paintbrush being nonbinary feels like it's more fuel for Lightbulb's development than Paintbrush themselves.
(20)Like, how will Lightbulb move forward after Paintbrush finally had a heart-to-heart with her, but then immediately got booted afterwards, oh no, that's so sad. And since the next episode isn't a 'Lightbulb focused one', that means the impact of Paintbrush on Lightbulb
(21)isn't really anything other than Lightbulb being a woke ally and correcting herself when saying 'guy, girl, or neither'. Paintbrush's nonbinary existence is fuel for LB being a better ally as opposed to being part of PB first and foremost.
(22)The idea that Lightbulb and PB's friendship is rocky -until- the moment that PB comes out is rough as well. As if you *need* to out yourself before you're comfortable to really let other people know you, because you owe it to them. Execution is more important than intent here
(23)A lot of this wouldn't be as bad, if, of course, Paintbrush's identity was treated like a natural part of themselves, as opposed to a big reveal or something that exists for the sake of emotional scenes and some key points of 'development'.
(24)It would also not be as bad, if, of course, Paintbrush wasn't the -only- rep in the show (and just for a few seconds, before being booted). It remains to be seen if the few remaining II episodes will do anything to rectify these issues,
(25)though the hyper-focus of the previews on lore and sad moments over regular character interactions doesn't exactly leave me hopeful. Still, saying nonbinary over 'option C' on twitter would at least be a step in the right direction.
(26)Hopefully this thread makes sense! Again - this is not meant to be inflammatory or a call to arms - these are just my thoughts on representation, based on my experiences with gender as well. Hopefully, either way, more shows come with more plentiful and better rep :D
