LogFAQs > #962647086

AmericaTheBrave posted...

Diversity should fit the setting.

If the story takes place in a fantasy world based on Medieval Europe, seeing anyone other than white people takes me out of it, unless a character is specifically from a foreign place. That used to be the way you could sneak in POC in fantasy settings (see Game of Thrones).

If a story takes place in downtown Chicago, then it makes sense for there to be diversity to reflect the demographics.

I wouldn't ask for white people to be in a fantasy movie/show that's based on Ancient China.

The key word here is "Based" on. Medieval Europe didn't have elves, dwarves and orcs either. It would also have been really sexist. There's no reason you can't have your swords and sorcery with castles fantasy have all sorts of things that weren't in Medieval Europe; because they already do.

If you're doing some story about a knight or something actually set during that time period on Earth that you want to be realistic, that's different. You could make an argument there; you'd have to have sources though, because there are a lot of people who know more about Medieval Europe than I do you'd have to convince. But even if you're right about Earth during the time, why would a black guy be a bridge too far when you can believe Dragons exist in Medieval Europe and it's also called Middle Earth and not Medieval Europe?