Hi! So I’m guessing you saw my post in a community, but I don’t want to cross tag, so I’m responding like this. I don’t like fandom drama, but I thought it over, and I think it might be a good opportunity to point some issues out to help spread awareness, so here goes! If anyone feels similarly or has more to add, please feel free to chime in.
Disclaimer: this isn’t about all SB/TK shippers or content, this is just a trend in some instances.
It’s not that SB/TK are inherently racist, bc you’re right! They are all white people. So what’s the problem?
The problem is fanon interpretations in which some fans depict Kon and Clark as men of color and then *also* give them every negative stereotype that goes along with that. Or if they’re meant to be darker-skinned white people, colorism is the word to use instead, but it still crosses over with racism and these negative stereotypes we’re about to explore.
A common trend some fans and I have noticed among SB/TK is that in these ships, people tend to make Kon and Clark dark-skinned men of color *along* with stereotypes, such as being sexually aggressive and dominant, hyper-masculine, much bigger*, stupider, temperamental, and orbit around their white/paler Bat counterparts.
By contrast, Tim and Bruce are depicted as white and/or paler, smaller*, sexually submissive, more intelligent, effeminate, and given much more emotional depth and nuance.
The other reason this is strange is because, and correct me if I’m wrong, isn’t Tim the team leader in YJ? Shouldn’t he be the “dominant one” in that sense? Just some food for thought.
I think it’s fun to play with different dynamics and nobody should be assigned “roles” in any given ship, but I hardly ever see it depicted this way and I think it’s strange, given the dynamics being described.
Not to mention when some fans depict SB/TK in these dynamics, Bruce and Tim are the ones focused on and centered more, making Clark and Kon seem like accessories used to prop them up.
Now here’s the caveat: JD (Jon x Damian)
Interestingly enough, JD *does not* get this same treatment; it’s reversed. Damian is canonically a person of color, therefore, he is automatically placed in the same role as Kon and Clark in the previous dynamics mentioned. He is depicted as a dominant alpha male, more sexually aggressive, possessive, and sometimes even “feral.”
Now compare him to Jon, who is depicted as his white savior who taught him what love is, who is his light, his guide. Jon, who is white and innocent and submissive to the mean dominant feral brown boy.
I still feel like this is less an issue among JD, which is nice. Damian is still typically depicted as smart, though he may be lacking in social skills, and he’s usually not depicted as bigger** than Jon, either. But he is sometimes still depicted in other stereotypical ways as mentioned.
Why is this important? Who cares?
These stereotypes can be harmful to men of color and people of color as a whole if people internalize these beliefs that being a man/person of color=dominant, aggressive, controlling, etc. It’s worth learning to recognize these trends when you engage in media to help combat these internalized beliefs/stereotypes.
I don’t expect this to change anything. Please don’t go harassing people (or me, lol) over this.
I’m merely sharing an observation some other fans and I have noticed and hoping to spread a little light on the matter. I’m not criticizing these ships or what people choose to do, frankly, I don’t care because it’s not my business, which is why I keep to a smaller group of friends and communities where it’s contained, so we can all just have our fun. But when I got this ask, I thought it might be worth answering to spread a bit of awareness so people can remain aware and critical, and in case others want to chime in for some friendly discussion.
For anyone reading this, consider asking yourself why these trends exist, who is being effected by trends such as these in the media, and to maybe try exploring other dynamics for these ships.
Continue making Kon and Clark poc or darker-skinned white men by all means, but maybe try centering them more equally, giving them more emotional depth and nuance, and doing away with the negative stereotypes. Why aren’t Tim or Bruce depicted as darker-skinned while being smart and emotionally nuanced in the pair?
The point isn’t about who is being depicted as what. The point I’m trying to make is not to depict people of color (or darker skinned white people) with negative stereotypes.
And for JD, bear in mind how Damian is depicted. There’s nothing wrong with poc being dominant in ships if it happens to fit the character and dynamic, but be careful how you do it and with what other features/stereotypes you may be depicting him as.
*Supers may be seen as bigger than Bats bc of Kryptonian genes and I understand that, but Bats are also superheroes who undergo intense training. In the comics and general media, they are usually visibly depicted as being around the same size physically. I think it’s very strange to depict poc-ified Supers like Kon and Clark as big and muscular, then Bats like Bruce and Tim as very skinny and lean by contrast. I know we like size differences in our ships, but with the aforementioned poc stereotypes in mind, maybe ask why the white Bats are being visibly shrunken in these ships, and why, when depicted as poc, the Supers remain big by contrast.
**Also interesting to note: Jon is not always given that extra muscle when paired with Damian. Damian may remain smaller or shorter (for the most part), but Jon isn’t much bigger. He may even be depicted as lean and skinny as Damian is, just slightly taller than Damian. More food for thought.
Disclaimer 2: Not All SB/JD/TK dynamics, Not All Shippers, Not All Fans, Not All Fanon Content, etc etc. Enjoy your ships!
