Whitewashing: A term that now has also come to refer to the entertainment industry's attempt at making ethnic characters more appealing to the white, money-spending masses by making exotic characters less ethnic and more "white." (from Urban Dictionary)
Before we begin, have you seen my glowing review of "The Immortal Rules"? Yes? Okay. So let me start by saying that I really, really, REALLY LOVED this book! And I simply adore Julie Kagawa, she is a badass! No question about it. But despite all that...
I am NOT HAPPY.
Man, this issue with the cover just makes my blood boil. So let me make something clear:
This. Is.
Not. Allison Sekemoto.
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| Allie wearing heavy eye-liner, smudge lipstick and a flashy necklace. Huh? |
Julie Kagawa and Harlequin Teen just launched the Blood of Eden website. But the pictures of Allison... gosh, are you kidding me?
The model (although very beautiful) doesn't look Asian to me, not even half Japanese. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against a Caucasian model on the cover, but ONLY if the MC is actually Caucasian him/herself.
This inaccurate representation of Allison Sekemoto ticked me off very much. My dog is not happy about it as well...
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| Sorry, he is quite old. He is not capable of violent reactions. |
I know. I know.
Authors have no say on what their book covers will look like, only publishers can make these kind of decisions. Although I disagree, I know that they have valid reasons for that rule. But when this and this happened, it's time I put my foot down and draw the line.
Here's the thing, most readers think that authors have absolute control over their own book: covers, trailers, movies, etc. That kind of belief can lead to a lot of problems for the author. So it's the publisher's job to make sure that everything goes well from the very beginning. Sometimes, an author can get lucky and have, if not smashing, a decent book cover. Sometimes, the cover doesn't make any sense at all. But hey! That's all part of the publishing game. Now, I'm not sure about self-pub authors, but my guess is that they can decide on what image they want to put on the cover.
Back to the issue...
I am sad to say that I won't be buying the physical copy of this book unless Harlequin Teen get their shit together. It's not like I'm banning this book or anything (because I loved it) but I have to make a stand. I feel that this whitewashing issue has gone far too long. It needs to stop NOW. Allie is Japanese, she needs to LOOK LIKE ONE.
Hey Vanessa. I totally agree. Although I do like the gory and gothic feel of the cover, the cover model is so wrong. She definitely does not look like an Asian.
ReplyDeleteYes! And when I look at the cover, I do NOT see Allie at all. What was Harlequin thinking?! Oh, don't mind me, I'm just being grumpy.
DeleteI also get irritated when cover pictures portray lead characters so different from the book's description
ReplyDeleteIt happens with movies too.
Tell your dog I appreciate his stance
:)
Well alone, my dog respects you. He wanted you to know that. *looks at Benjie... yes, yes, I already told her, now play dead!* Sorry, he's senile.
DeleteHeard about The Hunger Games controversy? I haven't read the books, but I heard Katniss was whitewashed in the movie. Many fans were so NOT amused by what happened. I mean, c'mon! We're already at the 21st century, you'd think the media will be more open-minded about colored-people. It just disgusts me!
The cover's gorgeous, I admit, but it would've meant so much more if they replaced the model with a Japanese one. I don't think it would've mattered much. :P
ReplyDeleteHow old is your dog, exactly? O.o
Meg, I agree with you about the gorgeousness of the cover. However, the cover does NOT accurately depict the MC of the book. The only thing they have in common? BLOODY TEARS... I mean blood tears, I mean tears made of blood. Oh! You know what I meant. :D
DeleteWell, personally, I think it matters a LOT who they put in the cover. It disturbs me, not just for superficial reasons.
My dog's age is top secret (he's pretty sensitive about that)... Sensitive and senile, yep, that's my dog! Hint: He's watching his great grandpuppy right now. :)
I admit I'm a big fan of that cover, I think it looks gorgeous. It was really confusing while I was reading though as they mentioned multiple times that Allie was Asian and the cover clearly wasn't. It's really bothersome when they don't portray the characters correctly.. Not only with whitewashing, but giving the cover model straight blonde hair when it should be red and frizzy, etc.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Your dog is a cutie!
I agree. The current cover is gorgeous. The model? Badass-looking. But she is not Allie. :( It's obvious that they INTENTIONALLY put a Caucasian model on the cover. I didn't like the message Harlequin is sending.
DeleteA person should be represented accurately to the public (books, movie, tv, etc), whether his/her skin color is black, brown, yellow, or white. And the same also goes for hair color or facial features. :)
Amen to that! I don't know how they think that the covers are more appealing or something, it just annoys me because that isn't the character that I've come to love.
DeleteTotally agree with you on this one! I do love the cover, but it sucks when it doesn't reflect what's inside. Fantastic post and adorable dog!
ReplyDeleteNew to your blog,
Stephanie @ Stepping Out of the Page
P.S. Don't forget to enter my latest giveaway!
Thank you! My dog appreciates the compliments. Keep 'em coming! :)
DeleteI thought the same thing. I just wish the model looked even a little like the character. They usually try and find a model to match Caucasian MCs, so why not the same with other ethnicities.
ReplyDeleteAnd with the cover for New Moon, even though it doesn't seem like it makes sense, a lot of people think it's symbolic like all the covers in the series. The flower is drooping because Edward and Bella's love is failing and the white and red represents Bella adjusting to vampire life while others suggest the falling petal represents that drop of blood in the beginning of New Moon that changed everything and Bella also falling into a deep depression.
Safari Poet
Thanks, Petra! The symbolism is a nice touch, unfortunately, I have NO head for symbolism. LOL
DeleteNow, here's what I personally think about book covers... they aren't supposed to MAKE YOU THINK. Hahaha!
But kidding aside, book covers are there to grab your attention, just like movie posters. For example, a new movie version of Romeo & Juliet is coming out. The poster illustrates a "a bottled poison inside a cage". Now, that's symbolism right there. Now say, I am living under a rock and I haven't heard of Romeo & Juliet (just an example people, don't freak, I read R&J cover to cover), what do you think I'll do when I see the poster? Here's what I AIN'T doin': stop, analyze, reflect, and admire the poster. Now for example, this new version stars a Maori (NZ natives) Romeo & Juliet, but on the poster I saw are two Pakehas (white people). How do you think I'll feel?
Hint: I might do a Haka!
I keep thinking the cover model is Neve Campbell.
ReplyDeleteReally? *stares at the cover* Hmmm... *stares hard at the cover* Okay... *sticks forehead to the monitor* I can TOTALLY see that now! I mean, the resemblance. It's probably because of all that eye makeup.
DeleteI've personally always thought this a rather serious issue, because whether publishers are aware of it or not, it's also a covert sign of racism. I'm yet to find any evidence that "covers with characters of colour don't sell", so their excuse is rather flimsy.
ReplyDeleteI think their presumption that people won't buy books with "coloured" people on the cover actually says a lot of how society perceives itself.
Exactly my thoughts, AM. Thank you! Their excuse is BS. I just can't wrap my head around it. I would rather buy an honest cover than a glossed-over one.
DeleteWow, I can't believe they didn't pick an Asian girl for the cover. Why wouldn't they if they weren't racist? I just don't think I've ever understood racism in the first place. I remember always wanting to be Asian when I was little, and I couldn't quite figure out why I didn't get to be. ;)
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that, in this day and age, this major kind of racism is going on. It's just terrible. But, you know, I was just reading about how people were making all kinds of racist comments about Rue being dark-skinned in The Hunger Games movie. It's mind-blowing that there are people like that out there.
Is there something we can do? Sign a petition or something? There's got to be some way to tell publishers how disgusted we are that this is going on.
Cheyenne, I honestly think that it's all about the book sales. They (the publishers) have this sick notion that if it isn't white, it's not gonna sell. And they are WELL AWARE of that reality. Unfortunately, some people are just plain dumb-asses (racists, etc) that make more noise than sensible people. So here's what I'm going to personally do: SUPPORT HONEST COVERS by buying or promoting them.
DeleteAmen to this Vanessa. It is a horrible trend, and when it comes to defending their actions, publishing house do not have a leg to stand on. I don’t know anything about cover design, or if there is sufficient data to support that ethnic models harm book sales, but either way it is inexcusable. Notice how it is never the other way around? We never have books about Caucasian girls featuring models of a different race. That would be absurd. Why is it not equally ridiculous to strip a character of their cultural identity to 'sell books'? (I am unconvinced that the young generation would be bothered whatsoever that a cover model was Japanese.)
ReplyDeleteBy purposefully whitewashing book covers, publishing houses suggest they feel the need to trick readers into reading about non-Caucasian characters, and would seem to tell their young readers: “Your race determines how important your story is. If you are black/asian/Hispanic/etc, no one would pick a book up with your face on it".
People may argue “well, if race really doesn’t matter, why does anyone care what race the model is? You’re attacking the model for being white! Hiss! Boo!”
But, in the meantime, a model with Asian heritage has lost an opportunity to work and the readers are left with a cover that misrepresents and sends a bad message.
Poor form, Harlequin Teen.