Read on Twitter
thinking about a lot today. how branding and platforming can lead to material being lifted from marginalized creators. how that same branding is forced upon us in an industry where, arguably, our face/voice/looks do not matter. AT ALL.
how our brand and platform is typically used to lure readers into our web: posting snippets/AO3 tags/moodboards and ALSO making sure our smiles are perfect, making peace with being on video (even though that isn't an option for some of us), dressing nicely, posing for the camera.
it's BONKERS, guys. like, legitimately bonkers that creative industries are relying on pseudo-celebrity appearance + attraction, video-engagement (in an era of online harassment for marginalized folks), perfectly assembled office spaces/living spaces to photograph.
PHEW.
PHEW.
just a gentle reminder that our work is what matters. our words. our books. it's fun to glamorize and engage with readers/other creatives and talk freely about our work.
but reminders:
but reminders:
creators owe you only what they are comfy giving. they do not owe you their face, voice, video engagement, address, photos. these things are potentially dangerous for some of us. or triggering for dysphoria. or exhausting for disabled folks (or or or - you see what i mean)
posting about our work is a risk. a huge, huge, monumental, heart shattering risk. every time a marginalized author posts about a WIP, they are trusting their peers and this industry to respect their intellectual property. that trust is tested a whole hell of a lot.
no matter how friendly, handsome/pretty/attractive, engaging, "young sounding", forthcoming or down-to-earth some creators are, there will be people who simply can't partake in hands-on/face-out platforming that will actively put us in danger.
in conversation with the above: please don't standardize the dancing bear act. writers/artists/creators (mostly marginalized folks, i've noticed) are being pushed to package themselves AS their work. to become an "icon" or "face" of a certain brand. it's dangerous, point blank.
