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https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://fanfare.pub/the-show-steven-universes-terrible-approach-to-fascism-6f700f37580f>
"
Steven Universe is about a boy called Steven who is half human, half alien.
He lives on Earth, in a picturesque beachside town, and on the side, he goes on
heroic missions with the alien freedom fighters, the Crystal Gems. As the
series progresses, Steven learns more and more about his lineage and a
thousand-year-old Civil War, which still has effects on the present.
From its vibrant animation to its deeply relatable characters and masterful
storytelling,
Steven Universe, created by Rebecca Sugar, has earned its
place in the hearts of millions worldwide. The series, hailed for its
celebration of diversity, its inclusive, queer-driven narrative, and its
willingness to delve into complex themes, does an excellent job when viewed
through the lens of LGBTQ+ families.
However, when it comes to handling the weighty issue of fascism (i.e., to
simplify, when power is concentrated into a narrow set of hands, and a
mythology around those figures is created) there is a problem. The aliens (i.e.
the Gems) that Steven shares his biology with are ruled by a fascist government
called the Diamond Authority. The show's approach to this subject often
oversimplifies the painful reality of this creed in favor of a problematic
“kill them with kindness” approach.
And so, let’s grab our guitars and take a deep dive into the brilliantly
animated world of music, friendship, and interstellar, genocidal space rocks."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
