The 2020 Diversity Awards

Every Reviewer has their biases and one of mine is representative media. If you haven't guessed by the way I write my articles or the topics I discuss I am one of those filthy leftists. I can argue until I'm blue in the face why representative media matters. Why BIPOC and LGBT+ persons should be able to see themselves in films. Why there should be more female and non-binary directors. Why its super messed up that the last movie I watched with a disabled character was Mac and Me(1988). But I'm not going to do that. Because hopefully like me you understand that the world isn't going to fall apart if Hollywood starts casting people who are not straight white able-bodied neurotypical mentally sound men in every movie. It may even surprise you that telling stories from other peoples perspectives you might gain something valuable and novel in your viewing experience. Also, I should mention these are personal recommendations of media I watched this year not necessarily media that came out in 2020.

 Now without further ado I present 

THE BOOLEAN BLOG 2020 DIVERSITY AWARDS

Best Diversity Movie

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

"Two modern-day cowboys meet on a shepherding job in the summer of ’63, the two share a raw and powerful summer together that turns into a lifelong relationship conflicting with the lives they are supposed to live."

I picked up Brokeback Mountain mostly just to see what was up with this "Gay Cowboy Movie" and what I got was a heart wrenching romantic drama. After I finished the film, I stayed up staring at the ceiling overwhelmed by the emotional impact of what I witnessed. Brokeback Mountain will fuck you up emotionally. 

Brokeback Mountain features an intense M/M romance while also spending the majority of the film showing how the rampant homophobia of the time affected the two men both externally and internally. Brokeback Mountain is considered to be a "Landmark in LGBT Cinema" for good reason. If you haven't seen this film yet what are you waiting for. 

Candyman(1992)

"YOU DON’T HAVE TO BELIEVE… JUST BEWARE.

The Candyman, a murderous soul with a hook for a hand, is accidentally summoned to reality by a skeptic grad student researching the monster’s myth."

I watched this film in anticipation of the 2021 Remake directed by Nia Decosta and produced by Jordan Peele. Candyman is a fantastic slasher film and in my opinion is one of the best uses of the Urban Legend conceit in horror films. Candyman features a large amount of subtext regarding race from its location to its casting choices. Regardless of how critics and academics view Candyman depictions of race it still holds strong as an important milestone in the genre of black cinema. 

The Descent

"After a tragic accident, six friends reunite for a caving expedition. Their adventure soon goes horribly wrong when a collapse traps them deep underground and they find themselves pursued by bloodthirsty creatures. As their friendships deteriorate, they find themselves in a desperate struggle to survive the creatures and each other."

The Descent is unique in the horror films that I have seen this year in the fact that it features an all female cast. There is a dearth of female led horror and The Descent provides a intense white knuckle horror experience. 

Best Diversity TV Show

Two Sentence Horror Stories

"Inspired by the viral fan fiction, 'Two Sentence Horror Stories' is an award-winning, original scripted horror anthology series. Each standalone story taps into the expansive world of the horror genre, pressing universal primal fears filtered through the anxieties of the most connected and racially diverse generation."

Two Second Horror Stories was one of the most diverse shows that I have reviewed since the beginning of the relaunch of my blog. The amount of the diversity in this series runs that gambit between races, sexual orientations, religion, class, and ability. The Representation was casual but during certain episodes the characters background influence the plot of the stories. Overall Two Sentence Horror Stories should be seen as a roadmap to what proper diverse media looks like. 

Russian Doll

"A cynical young woman in New York City keeps dying and returning to the party that's being thrown in her honor on that same evening. She tries to find a way out of this strange time loop."

First I would love to just appreciate the fact that there is a Time Loop Web Series out there in the world. My second appreciation is how organically diversity is layered into the world. I have gone into the depths of the diversity of the show in my article but I'll give you a run down. A majority of the cast are people of color along with a number of side characters being LGBT. Another key aspect of the show I enjoyed was its sympathetic look towards mental health treatment. The only thing I would love to see in this series is more disability but that can be said about most media I can consume. 

Spectros

"A group of teenagers gets unintentionally involved in a conflict between Japanese Shinto ghosts and Brazilian witchcraft."

I want to start off this mini review by stating that just because a work is diverse or "woke" does not instantly mean that it is good. Spectro's in my opinion is fairly middling in terms of story quality but i would be amiss to not include this show due to its emphasis on diversity. 

Spectros is set in the Liberdade District of Sao Paulo, Brazil which contains one of the largest groups of the Japanese diaspora. Besides are East Asian leads the main cast includes Carla, an Afro-Brazilian lesbian. Besides these characters Spectros makes a point to discuss the effects of colonialism and the internment of Japanese Brazilians during World War II. 

Now as I have mentioned other times in my writing Soy Es Blanco and therefore I have no right to decide whether ones representation is accurate or well-done but I can say there is some instances, especially in a show that explicitly states its social commentary, that the representation is understated. Specifically with the character Carla.

 Carla is told at the beginning of the show that "life is different for you, [A woman of Color]". However the effects of racial prejudice are never shown. (I'm not saying that is something that I want just that it is a bit of a Chekov's gun. If your going to include that aspect of realism in the work actually have it effect the character). Also Carla visibility as a WLW is incredible low in the writing. After we are introduced to her girlfriend she disappears from the series, they imply a romantic relationship between her and the local stoner, (which she ultimately denies so at least they didn't cross that line) and they never make clear whether or not Carla's sexuality affected her fallout with Mila before the show began. I'm not saying the representation is bad I'm just disappointed that they set up a lot of interesting story beats that tied into Carla's identity but didn't show how that identity affected her actions of the world around her.  

Black Summer

"In the dark, early days of a zombie apocalypse, complete strangers band together to find the strength they need to survive and get back to loved ones."

Black Summer is a beautify shot character-led drama that also manages to include intense zombie chases. Another great part of the series is how effortlessly and organically it creates racially diversity. 

With a few exceptions nearly the entire cast are people of color. Black Summer also stars Mustafa Alabssi in his debut television role who is a deaf Syrian refugee. On that note the creators stated "essentially the idea of an American refugee crisis in our country but in the kind of genre confines of what we would call a kind of viral outbreak zombie Apocalypse". In that vein I appreciated how the language barrier, (namely in Ooh "Sun" Kyungsun case) affected how the characters where perceived and interacted with. 

The only issue I have with this show in terms of diversity was its heteronormativity. There is a distinct lack of LGBT characters in the series and giving that the original show did include LGBT relationships, (not a lot but there were some), makes this that much more aggravating. 

Ratched

"In 1947, Mildred Ratched begins working as a nurse at a leading psychiatric hospital. But beneath her stylish exterior lurks a growing darkness."

This September, Netflix released a Period Drama based off of Ken Kinsey's Seminal Novel, One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest, which follows the iconic nurse in her early years before Captain Broom and McMurphy. Many critics panned the film for poor plotting and it being a "Unnecessary Prequel" but for other fan bases, (particularly Tumblr users), Ratched was praised for creating a inclusive period drama especially considering how many similar dramas present us a white and straight washed society despite the fact that diversity has always existed. (Note: Obviously there is going to be periods and locations that are monolithic, (Feudal Japan for instance), however American history is defined by its racial diversity and by only showing a white straight America you are erasing the experiences of hundreds of different groups)

If you can get past its AHS plotting, Ratched provides an enjoyable melodrama featuring one of the best developed Sapphic romances that I have seen this year. So that's something. 

Sense8

"A group of people around the world are suddenly linked mentally, and must find a way to survive being hunted by those who see them as a threat to the world's order."

There are so many things I love about this series. Its multiculturalism. Its emphasis on LGBT Relationships. Its usage of spectacle and its crisp visuals. 

Basically Sense8 told Heroes to hold its Beer and then hit us with a ridiculous amount of diversity and I fucking love it. 

Slasher

"Shortly after her return to the small town where her parents were murdered many years ago, Sarah Bennett is horrified when she discovers a new series of murders has begun."

If you read my review of this series you will get the sense that I enjoyed it immensely. Besides the plot and acting which is topnotch one thing I love about this series is its diverse casting. Of the majority of slasher films I have seen this year, (Syfy's Truth or Dare was particularly egregious), the vast majority of the cast where straight white teenagers with the occasional token person of color or token gay. So when I had the delight to watch a show with a diverse cast with ACTURAL BACKSTORY AND CHARACTERIZATION I sat down with my popcorn to have myself a good time. 

The Second and Third Seasons of the show push the envelope with an even more diverse cast and I can say that I am excited for the up-and-coming Season 4 which is being produced by the horror streaming service Shudder. 

Best Diversity Podcast

Code Switch

"What's CODE SWITCH? It's the fearless conversations about race that you've been waiting for! Hosted by journalists of color, our podcast tackles the subject of race head-on. We explore how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and everything in between."

Code Switch is probably one of the most enjoyable non fiction podcasts that I listened to this year. Check this out if your looking for in depth and based discussion about racial and cultural identity. 

The Penumbra Podcast

"At the Penumbra, you might follow Juno Steel, a brooding, sharp-witted private eye on Mars, as he tangles with an elusive homme fatale, tracks dangerous artifacts of an ancient alien civilization, and faces his three greatest fears: heights, blood, and relationships. Or you might enter the world of the Second Citadel, where the merciless Sir Caroline must corral a team of emotionally distraught all-male knights to defend their city against mind-manipulating monsters...even the ones they’ve fallen in love with. These audio dramas and more await you in the Penumbra, dear traveler. We hope you enjoy your stay."

If you like audio dramas, crime noir, westerns, or old-timey radio theater but you wish that it was more inclusive then the penumbra podcast is for you. From a Bisexual POC Mars Detective to a paraplegic Knight TPP manages to push the envelope in who can be protagonists in genre fiction. Also the stories are top notch. Just go listened to it. 

The Bright Sessions

"Start with episode 01. Dr. Bright provides therapy for the strange and unusual; their sessions have been recorded for research purposes."

Basically imagine a show like Alphas but a lot gayer. Bright Sessions revolves around a group of "Atypicals" who are all in therapy for different reasons. Not only does this series feature one of the best written M/M romances I have listened to in freaking forever it also has Asexual Rep and when was the last time you've seen that?

On a another note the Bright Sessions heavily focuses on the concept of mental health in between its science fiction and drama plotting. Having media that destigmatizes both Mental Illness and Mental Health Therapy is heartwarming. We love to see it. 

Best Diversity Mobile Game

Good Pizza Great Pizza

"Ever wanted to know what it feels like to run your own Pizza shop? Now you can with TapBlaze’s newest cooking game, Good Pizza, Great Pizza! Do your best to fulfill pizza orders from customers while making enough money to keep your restaurant open. Upgrade your restaurant with new toppings, decor and kitchen equipment to compete against your pizza rival, Alicante!"

Mobile Games aren't particularly known for their deep character driven storylines so while it was a little hard to decide this category the winner also didn't have much competition. Good Pizza, Great Pizza was a fun quirky restaurant sim mobile game and the reason why it is on this list is its customer base. GPGP made sure to include customers of many different races, religions, and abilities and the visible diversity of this game was one of the enjoyable parts of it. Because hey, everyone likes pizza. 

Best Foreign Language Film

I included this category since as an American the majority of the films I watch are English-Language American made films. However there are fantastic films created in every country and I wanted to include space for some of the international films that were truly iconic. 

Train to Busan

Original Title: 부산행

Language: Korean

"Martial law is declared when a mysterious viral outbreak pushes Korea into a state of emergency. Those on an express train to Busan, a city that has successfully fended off the viral outbreak, must fight for their own survival…"

Train to Busan is a 2016 S. Korean film directed by Yeon Sang-Ho and it is fucking fantastic. This film is what World War Z wish it could be. Great action sequences, a dynamic cast, and social political commentary hit all the hallmarks of what makes Zombie Films stand out. On top of that Train to Busan was the forerunner for a trend in South Korean zombie horror from the period drama Kingdom, (which I need to see but give me a minute), to 2020s Netflix Original #Alive. Absolutely fantastic film. 

Pan's Labyrinth

Original Title: El laberinto del fauno

Language:  Castilian Spanish

"Living with her tyrannical stepfather in a new home with her pregnant mother, 10-year-old Ofelia feels alone until she explores a decaying labyrinth guarded by a mysterious faun who claims to know her destiny. If she wishes to return to her real father, Ofelia must complete three terrifying tasks."

Fun Fact Guillermo Del Toro wrote the subtitles himself for the film also he hates horses. Pan's Labyrinth is a dark fantasy set during the Spanish Civil War. Combining both the horrors of a Fascist Regime and the dark side of fairy tales Del Toro raises deep questions about the concepts of choice and obedience. Also its dark as shit. 

If you ever watched Neverending Story and thought "wow, this is not dark and horrifying enough" well do I have news for you. In all seriousness through this film is fantastic it is worth the watch, and Guillermo Del Toro deserves the love and affection he receives. 

Red Carpet

To end this event please meet some of the great characters I got to see on screen. NOTE: I tried to pick characters outside of our award winners. 

Lola Ackerman (CAM)

Alice "Lola_Lola" Ackerman is the main character of 2018's CAM written by Isa Mazzie and directed by Daniel Goldhaber. The one thing that distinguishes her from the others on this list is her occupation as a sex worker. Ackerman works as a cam model for the entirety of the film as her chosen profession. Camming is something that she enjoys, something that she finds fulfilling, and despite the dangers that she experiences throughout the film it is the industry that she wants to succeed in. 

Ackerman is a determined, business savvy, and all around just bad ass character and I'm just happy that there is finally a film out there where a woman can be sexually empowered without being diminished to her sexuality. 

Sarah Logan (Taking of Deborah Logan)

First The Taking of Deborah Logan is a fantastic film and I'm kicking myself for taking so long to watch it. Second can we appreciate casually representation. 

Sarah Logan is the daughter and caretaker of the eponymous Deborah Logan, dementia patient turned snake demon. Also, as she reveals during a night of drinking with the film bois she is also a lesbian. One of the things I love so much about her character is how her sexuality is a part of her identity but it is not the culmination of her identity. 

Sarah is allowed to exist outside of her sexual orientation and while there is subtext about how this effects her relationship with her mother it is simply another part of her characterization. 

Sarah Logan is a great example on how to write LGBT characters in horror movies take notes. 

Jennifer (Jennifer's Body)

Ok why did I sleep on this movie for so long?

Jennifer's Body perfectly encapsulates my nostalgia of the early 2000s from the Pop Punk soundtrack to the their depictions of emo fashion. The entire film is just a feel good romp that carries the same energy that 10 Things I Hate About You did for the 90s or Girls Just Want To Have Fun did for the 80s. (I love all these movies by the way).

Its never clarified whether Jennifer's Bisexual Behavior is part of her possession or if her possession simply gave her the Devil-may-care attitude, (pun intended), to pursue her interest in woman. 

Her relationship with Needy is dysfunctional, and toxic but also explicitly homoerotic at times. Along with Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl"*, Jennifer's Body is one of the cultural milestones of early 2000s Queer Pop Culture. The last 20 years have seen an uptick in both queer and female centric content but Jennifer's Body with always for me be a seminal film in LGBT-Inclusive and Feminist Film Canon. 

Amy and Samantha (Green Inferno)

Once again can we applaud for casual representation that doesn't overtake a characters identity and personality. 

Now Eli Roth tends to be a controversial director who tends to push the envelope in what people define as "good taste". Cannibal Films are a already a controversial subject so when I heard that he was creating a homage to the exploitation films of the 80s I was equal parts intrigued and concerned. 

Overall I felt that Eli Roth did a excellent job with his sendup but I do want to focus on Amy and Samantha two background characters who just happened to be in a lesbian relationship. Casually representation is important as it "normalizes" marginalized groups in a world of media awash with straight white flawless 30 somethings. 

Eli Roth earlier films have been problematic in the past from the N-word controversy of his debut film Cabin Fever to the themes of homophobia in the original hostile film. So it is good to see Roth's growth in his filmography over the years. Roth still has a way to go from his offensive 90s slang in his film but I appreciate that in the modern age that even creators of the trite and offensive can still try to grow and create inclusive content. 

Ben (Night of the Living Dead)

It should come as no surprise that Ben made this list.

Night of the Living Dead was shot and premiered during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, (the film came out the same year as MLK assassination for context) and featured a black protagonist played by Duane Jones who was a stage actor. Jones performance was historic as it was the first depiction of a black main character in horror films, (which unfortunately is still a novelty to this day). 

Duane Jones performance was fantastic and is another facet in what makes Night of the Living Dead a classic to this day. 

Keisha Taylor (Alice Isn't Dead)

Alice isnt Dead is one of the original lineups of the Nightvales Presents Podcast Network along with Within the wires and stars Jessica Nicole, (who plays Mayor Cardinal in Welcome to Nightvale), as a lesbian truck driver looking for her missing wife. 

Welcome to Nightvale was one of the first podcasts I ever listened to and the first story I ever consumed that stared a Gay protagonist, and Alice Isn't Dead continues this proud tradition. 

I absolutely love Jessika Nicoles body of work and I can honestly say that this is one of my favorite rolls for her. Also how often to do you get to meet a lesbian truck driver that's just a cool character design. 

Doris Tiedemann and Agnes Nielsen (Dark)

For those that don't know Dark is a atmospheric science fiction thriller that follows the lives of several families in a sleepy little German town that is plagued with strange happenings every 32 years.

I like to think of it as Twin Peaks with Time Travel. 

Now I will be the first to admit that the diversity and representation in dark is ... not the best and I do wish that the creators could have fleshed out some of their LGBT characters a bit more. 

However I did enjoy the blossoming of Doris and Agnes relationship near the end of season 1 but maybe I just have a soft spot for lesbians in period dramas. 

Theodora Crain (The Haunting of Hill House)

The Haunting of Hill House is a supernatural drama inspired by the very very famous Shirley Jackson novel and is directed by Mike Flanagan. Whereas as Jacksons Novel featured a bunch of Midcentury Modern ghosts hunters getting fucked up by a bunch, Flanagan's THOHH features a dysfunctional family who are fighting their metaphorical and metaphysical Ghosts. So like Shameless but with a fuckton of ghosts. 

Theordora Crain is the middle child, a bit of an alcoholic, and also a  lesbian. First I would like to just allow you to enjoy one of the best reveals of a characters sexuality that I have ever seen. Second I would like to take the time and appreciate the fact that The Haunting of Hill House is the first horror story where a queer character is in a visible same sex relationship for the entirety of the series. (you think this wouldn't be that rare but you'd be surprised).

Martial "Nounours" Ferrandis (The Black Spot)

The Black Spot is a French Procedural Crime Drama set in a French town with a homicide rate several times over the national average. 

I love procedural crime dramas and anything that even hints at Twin Peaks vibes but unfortunately many of these types of stories are aggressively straight and white washed. So when I got Episode 2 of the first season and it is revealed that Nounours is a gay man I was pleasantly surprised. 

Casually representation is great and I definitely appreciate that Nournours is presented as this outdoorsman instead of your stereotypical fop. Like any other demographic queer men run the gambit in terms of gender expression and masculinity a fact that most media ignores in place of rather staid stereotypes. 

 

Anyway Readers thank you for reading this article. The opinions in this article were made in good faith and are entirely my own. Are there any TV Shows, Movies, Podcasts or other forms of media that you think did representation right or wrong. Any controversies or context that I left out about a film or show? Just want to Fan Boy/Girl/Person? let me know down below in the comments. 

*I Kissed a Girl is controversial in the LGBT community due to the tone and lyrics of the content. Here is an article that touches on the issues.