Cleverman (and Other Things)

VOTE ON SKARA BRAENS AND HELP ME WRITE A STORY FOR CHARITY

Good morning, Readers!

Remember a few days back when I got on my privileged white high horse and sad, basically, "Oi, I'm not some weird mindless twat. I am sophisticated enough to handle diversity, thank you, and, what's more, OMG I'M BORED CAN WE PLEASE GET SOME DIVERSITY UP IN THIS THING!" (the 'thing' being entertainment media).

Well, at long last, it's happening. There are two things coming up that have me very, very excited.

I posted a few weeks ago on my Facebook page a trailer for a really awesome-looking Australian science fiction show which stars an aboriginal man in the lead role.  How awesome is that?  For those who haven't yet seen it, watch it:

How amazing does that look?  Amazing, right?

AND IT GETS BETTER!

The show was written by an aboriginal man, (for his son (the lead character shares his son's name... D'awww!)) who wanted to provide aboriginal Australians a super hero of their own (much like Ottawa's own Jay Odjick and his kick-arse Kagagi (you can read about the Canadian First-Nations superhero here)).

Growing up, I had She-Ra and Xena.  Now aboriginal kids (and non-aboriginal Australians too) will have Cleverman.  This makes me so happy, you have no idea.

AND IT GETS BETTER!

Not only is this a science fiction show, written by an aboriginal Australian, with a largely aboriginal Australian cast, BUT, it draws on aboriginal myth.  Stories of the Dreamtime provide the base for this science fiction.

I read it yesterday in this article.  Now I'm really excited!  These are stories I didn't get to hear much, despite having done most of my growing up in Australia.  I know the story of The Rainbow Serpent, and that's about it.

And that's abysmal.  It's such a shame.  How much enrichment did I miss out on because aboriginal culture was, and is, so wrongfully shunned?

I'm excited because it's something new.  It's a perspective I haven't experienced yet, full of stories and myth and history that I am almost entirely ignorant about.  At long last, here are stories I do not know like the back of my hand.  New things are exciting and fascinating and intriguing.  New perspectives, possibilities and stories are the reason genre is so damned popular (no matter what the idiotic puppies might argue).  It's certainly why I read genre.

Anyway, I sure as hell hope they have Cleverman available in Canada, because it looks too good to pass up.  I must watch this!

Another thing coming to us that has me really excited is Bilal​.  Here's the trailer:

I know absolutely nothing about this story.  I do know that it involves the prophet Muhammad, and that as such, they couldn't show his face (so they depict him wearing a mask).

I also do know that the animation studio is in the United Arab Emirates.

Lastly, I can see OMFG THIS STORY LOOKS EPIC!

I really cannot wait to watch this film!  It's for the same reason I am so looking forward to Cleverman.  It's new.  It's a story I don't know.  It's a peek into a world and culture that I will only ever experience superficially.

We need these stories; not just white people who need to be woke up to a whole world of wonder, but all of humanity.  We need to hear each other's stories, each other's histories, each other's voices.  It is through stories that bonds are formed.

Beyond just magnificent entertainment, it opens our eyes to a world we didn't know even existed.

And that can only be a good thing.

Now I have a painting to work on.

Ciao!