If you've been on social media the past few years, you’ve most likely come across more than one post speaking about and emphasizing representation in the media. I mean, you’d have to be living under a rock or completely off the grid to not have heard about it ever. And even then, it’s probable that you’d know something about it. This isn’t exactly a new topic, either. However, it’s a topic that seems to come up more often these days, with debate (or simply fights) around it, with more attention granted to it.
Representation in the media does matter. It can be incredibly helpful to see yourself and/or your group included in a piece of work. It can do wonders if your reflection is not merely an extra, if they’re more than just a side character. Furthermore, if at last, it stopped being painted as something inferior, contemptible, or undesirable. We should be authentic and genuine in order to grow into our truest selves rather than shape ourselves in the image of someone or something else, yes. However, seeing examples that resonate with us and resemble us on a number of levels, to some degree, whether literally or figuratively, can significantly contribute to our self-awareness - particularly if we remain discerning of what fits and what doesn’t (this I cannot stress enough). And beyond bringing awareness, it may be inspiring and motivating. It can be relieving and comforting, too. Maybe lead you to see things that you weren’t seeing before. And not just you, everyone else who also happens to consume such media might be onto some important realizations. Anyone trying to sell you that representation doesn’t matter is lying to you, though probably to themselves too (or are terribly dense).
Still, as with almost everything, the concept can be misused and misapplied. Although we can establish that representation matters, it does not mean that it should be all that does. If you adopt this mentality as a creator, everything else in your work will suffer as a result - though you might still get woke points for it. I know that to some this is a 'bad take' and that I could be called a bigot for it, but turn off your excessive self-righteousness so that you can hear me out on this. There’s more to creating content than just being inclusive, than obsessing about including a token for as many different people as you can and yet not bothering with really grasping and navigating the nature of them and what they face. If, as a creator, your top priority is to sate the demand for representation, lest you be accused of not being progressive enough, you’re letting fear get the best of you. And you’re being a people-pleaser. Which, generally, isn’t a great thing. Not for you, not for others. Likewise, as a consumer, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you focus and depend so much on representation that you turn into an egotistical and insatiable addict for it. Getting good representation is a good thing, but it is not everything.
 |
| The Reckoning (2020) |
This is coming from someone who has, from the very beginning, deeply valued and cherished being represented in the media - to the degree that I made it my life mission to do the same for others. Because I know that when all else fails, we turn to art to lift us up and show us the way. And it’s such a goddamn relief when someone finally gets us and treats our reality kindly - even if that someone is an author that you might never meet and who doesn’t know that you, personally, exist. Sometimes it’s something that we desperately need. And believe it or not, we might even find it in horror.
Have you ever been falsely accused and persecuted for sins that you’re not guilty of on the basis of some of the most ignorant and absurd reasonings? Like, completely baffling arguments for it? You might relate to The Reckoning, another Shudder production that I appreciate.
 |
| Vampires VS. The Bronx (2020) |
But on a much lighter note, what recently caught me as a pleasant surprise was seeing my culture represented in a Netflix horror comedy. I am Dominican and cinematography here, in the Dominican Republic, is still in diapers. Truth be told, I don’t like the stuff they’ve been making. And although I consider myself mostly raised by cable and the internet, and am not patriotic in the least, I can’t deny that I am from the Dominican Republic and part of its culture lives in and through me and goes wherever I go.
I found Vampires Vs. The Bronx hilarious. They got so much so right. The Dominican attitudes, the lingo… Even the Dominican moms’ tendency to embarrass their kids in front of their peers when they’re trying to act cool and be impressive. Look, if somebody tells you that this movie is offensive to Dominicans, as well as racist, they don’t know s**t what they’re talking about or have a serious problem of taking everything too damn personally.
It was also interesting how Haiti, our neighboring country sharing the island, came up: it was the Haitian girl who most readily believed and helped the Dominican kids against the vampires, because Brujeria and such is a big part of their culture.
I didn’t know I needed this, but I did. So this is what it feels like when your culture gets representation you like, huh? Nice.
In the horror genre, you'll find representation for traits, situations, circumstances, and more that may be difficult to cope with and/or overcome. Disability, for example, is often a theme. Neurodivergence, too - especially if you take it allegorically or symbolically. Fortunately, though, most of us never go through half of the horrible things that are explicitly shown in horror. Yet, what a release...
What is representation to you?