Jason Lim is a Washington, D.C.-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture.
What if Robb Stark was African?
.jpg?w=728)
By Jason Lim
For those of you living under a rock, Game of Thrones is the blockbuster HBO series based on “A Song of Ice and Fire,” George R. R. Martin’s series of fantasy novels. It’s violent, gritty, sexy, and incredibly addictive, with a wide following across the world.
Although it’s a fantasy set in mythical lands, it pretty much looks and feels like England, with random exotic locations thrown in that resemble Southern Spain. And, of course, everyone speaks English. Oh yeah, by the way, all the characters are also white (except the unscrupulous black merchant who quickly got what he was due).
Not that diversity is a requirement. This is not the U.S. Congress or some government organizations that should reflect the actual diverse makeup of the people. This is a work of fiction, a creative product that should not be subject to legal requirements.
Also, just because the characters are white doesn’t mean that non-whites can’t identify with them. I mean, who in their right minds didn’t wince at the shocking murders of the three main characters in the infamous Red Wedding episode? Viewers even took to social media to share their angst over the death of these characters; they were one of the very few likable people in the storyline and you couldn’t help rooting for them and, more importantly, identifying with them.
By that, I mean that we felt their deaths even more keenly because we subconsciously projected ourselves onto them, seeing their world through their eyes, feeling their loves through their hearts, and feeling shocked at the deadly betrayal they suffered as if we were them. This is the power of a good fantasy. It grabs hold of us and forces us to care about it as if we are involved.
This is not just Game of Thrones, of course. This power is also evident in the Lord of the Rings saga and the Harry Potter stories. No matter where you go in this world, it would be difficult to find anyone who hasn’t either watched, read, or heard about Robb Stark, Aragorn, Gandalf, or Harry.
Funny thing is, they are all white. Not only that, they all represent white European mythical archetypes. The crusading and noble son, just knight, good wizard, and so on. Yet, billions of non-white and non-Europeans ― children and adult alike ― flock to these stories and imagine themselves being one of them without feeling the least bit out of place.
You might ask, so what? We do that with all great fantasies, correct?
Well, yes and no. Let’s try a little thought experiment. Let’s close our eyes and think about Robb Stark, Lady Catelyn, DaenerysTargaryen, Tywin Lannister, and all the main characters in Game of Thrones. Picture them as they are.
Now picture them as black characters. And also imagine the background scenery as being in central Africa with tribes rather than noble families and Zulu warriors rather than knights in shining armors. Robb Stark is now a Kikuyu warrior and Daenerys is a Yoruba Chieftain’s daughter with tattoos dotting her face. And Tywin Lannister is the head of some sinister tribe. All black. All Africans. How easy is it to identify with these characters now?
Let’s move to China, which is equally rich with cultural myth and history of deadly palace intrigue. I mean, the Warring States Period would put Game of Thrones to shame any day. Yet, let’s imagine all these characters as Chinese. How easy is it to project yourself onto them now and make that intimate emotional connection with the characters? Especially if you are not Asian?
It is probably not as easy as it was when they were white Europeans. It’s just easier to see yourself as a protagonist in some European mythology-based fantasies than it is for other cultural and ethnic narratives. For that matter, exactly how many African or Jewish fantasy stories do you even know? Exactly.
This is just one example that tells us how dominant white European culture in today’s world is. It has soared beyond its geographical and ethnic confines to become the mainstream founding myths for all cultures. That’s why it can be so accommodating and inclusive. Perhaps because we all grew up with it and it has become a part of us.
This is what real soft power is. It has to do with the power to shape how people identify and imagine themselves being. I am not saying that this is bad or that Asian myths are somehow better than European ones. Far from it. After all, I am named after Jason Argonaut, a widely known character from Greek mythology.
But what I am saying is that we must be missing something precious that are hidden in the shadows of the dominant cultural narrative that currently governs us. One day, it would be nice to feel as familiar and empathetic with an African or Palestinian protagonist in a fantasy TV show as we do with the Starks in the Game of Thrones. Or be able to imagine ourselves as King Arthur as easily as Chiwoo.
Jason Lim is a Washington, D.C., based expert on innovation, engagement and organizational culture. He has been writing for The Korea Times since 2006. He can be reached at jasonlim@msn.com, facebook/jasonlim2000 and @jasonlim2012.