A note on representation

 

Photo:  iStock

A note on characters and representation in my current story, because it’s come up a few times in

comments before and we’re hitting original characters.

I’ve mentally broken this story down into three different groups.  There’s the characters from

Downton, the original characters in 1912, and original characters from another time point at the

end, which I won’t give away because <<spoilers>>.

With the characters from Downton I’m stuck with what I have.  That’s part of the fun of writing fan

fiction, at least it is for me.  You have to write within the constraints given you.  I find it an enjoyable

challenge.  Given that it’s a period drama everyone is very white, which fits the place and time.  

Skipping to the characters from another time point I’ve chosen to make them all as diverse as I

logically can to provide some balance.  The one exception being a character based on a real life

person.  Not going into who because <<spoilers>>. 

As for the original characters from 1912 I’ve described three, Lady Sintra, Lt. Demaria and one other

later in the story. One is the actor I've deliberately cast to better hear their voice in my head, oneis the actor I’ve deliberately cast to better hear their voice in my head, one is related to them, and

Lady Sintra is related to a character from a yet unpublished story.  I deliberately tried not to describe

the others so they could be mentally “cast” using actors of any background.  It’s called non-traditional

or color-blind casting and it’s the best way I could find to balance the books, given that I think you

should write what you know best and what I know is sci-fi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color-blind_casting

So to that end, if you want a face to go with the one specific character I’m casting Amy Beth

McNulty from the 3rd season of Anne with an E as Lt. Kira Demaria.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/anneofgreengables/images/b/bc/2017_S3_

PosterNetflix.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20191126184155

And Lady Sintra is a blue-eyed blond due to having William Mosely cast as a some number of greats

grandson.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/William_Moseley_2015_TCA_

Press_Tour_%28cropped%29.jpg/330px-William_Moseley_2015_TCA_Press_Tour_%28cropped%29.jpg

Everyone else is open. 

—-----

What about LGBTQ+ representation?

Oh.  So.  Much.

Downtown we know.  Thomas is gay, everyone else is straight.

That one character based on a real person?  In an interview she referred to her partner as male, but

she’s at work so it doesn’t come up.

The other three set in another time?  Also at work, it doesn’t come up.

Out of the remaining good sized group, one straight couple, one apparently straight couple but they’re

both bi, 1.5 gay couples*, one lesbian couple and the rest are bi or pan or gay/lesbian and single. 

Yes, all of them.  Every last one.  Pan means something somewhat different in their culture, but it’s

close.  And yes, there is a trans character.

Aldara is a very rainbow sort of <<spoilers>>.

*The other .5 is Thomas.  I didn’t create him.