hiii ive really been loving your analysis so far, but im still trying to process the last ep. ive seen a lot of other black fans very reasonably upset by the racialised language in the seance scene, aside from just slave, especially in the less than sensitive context of the whole season so far? i myself as a white person am of course not the person to speak on this, but i was wondering id you had any further thoughts on this? (ignore this if you're not in the headspace for the discourse) - especially cause unfortunately, as opposed to earlier seasons, they were no black writers involved as far as i know.
yes, other black fans have been reasonably upset with the language used in episode six. to me this is a bit like a Tarantino situation. some black people like Samuel L. Jackson can defend and praise his work, others like Spike Lee can say that they find it offensive. i think both are opinions that hold merit because racism isn't perceived by every black person in the same way, and we are all allowed to express the different ways in which things can offend us. what i may find racist is not what another black person may find racist.
my responses are never to denounce the feelings and opinions and other black fans who are offended, they are more towards the notion that because we find something offensive, it makes it objectively bad. Claudia's "slave etched into his DNA" line had my jaw wide open. the scene was visceral and disturbing, and yes, offensive. i think that TVL was always going to be a bit more brutal in its presentation of things, but i think that racialised language has always been present in the show. i think because Louis is the protagonist of season, it was more obvious to see that even though there was so much racialised abuse towards Louis, the writers were never endorsing it because we are always meant to be sympathetic towards Louis, the victim. now in season 3, where Louis is no longer the protagonist but still receives racial abuse from other characters, people might see this as the writers potentially endorsing racism because they have not pointed out objectively who the "victim" of the scene is, if that makes sense?
for example, in season one: Fenwick repeatedly racially abuses Louis. Fenwick is a bad person, we are meant to hate Fenwick, Fenwick is the obvious perpetrator and Louis is the victim. the writers are evidently not endorsing racism.
season 3 ep 4: Daniel makes a racist comment about Louis. (here comes the conflict) we are meant to like Daniel, we have liked Daniel previously. because a "likeable" character is making racist commentary does this mean that the writers are endorsing racism? not necessarily. just because Daniel is likeable, or a main character, that does not automatically make him good. that does not automatically not make him a bit bigoted because he is well-liked character.
season 3 ep 6: Claudia uses offensive language towards Louis (i kind of refrain here from saying Claudia herself is racist because that is counter-intuitive but the comment is definitely racial abuse). Louis here in this scene is not prevented as the "victim", Claudia is. she is airing her grievances towards a man who mistreated her her entire life. does this mean that the writers are justifying Claudia's racially charged language? do this therefore mean that the writers are endorsing racism? not necessarily.
Claudia is not a vessel for the writers at that point, nor was Daniel in that other scene scene, so the actions and words they used are separate from the beliefs of the writers. there are pieces of media where writers use characters are mouthpieces to spew their own vile and bigoted perceptions. but i don't think TVL is, because the writers of TVL never have these "mouth-piece" moments. their characters are all full of agency and the narrative does not rely on the writers dropping in to make their own moral standings of situations clear to the audiences. we are looking at a depiction of monsters. non-black writers writing black stories is something i have mixed opinions on, but i very much doubt that this show had zero consultation with any black people even if there were no black people in the writers room. not that Jacob or Delainey's opinions and views on racism speak for all black people collectively, but they were clearly consulted about the scene and comfortable for it to be included (JA says that there isn't anything in the script Rolin and Hannah have written that he hasn't approved) so on that point i don't really know.
this is just my personal take, this is not to denounce the thoughts and feelings of those who were offended, or undermine them in any way but personally that is my opinion. i don't expect others to agree with me, as once again the more nuanced understandings of certain areas of racism are never "one size fits all."
also, please don't be afraid to ask these kinds of important questions in fear of creating "discourse," i'm really grateful that you have taken the time to consider and ask for the opinion of a black fan!
have a nice day/night, i hope this little ramble has helped <3
