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Author Topic: Diversity is not a Virtue: Don't play the SJW game  (Read 39020 times)

BoxCrayonTales

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Re: Diversity is not a Virtue: Don't play the SJW game
« Reply #525 on: April 12, 2021, 10:58:42 AM »
I found another article by a Polish journalist asking "Is the Witcher Slavic?" https://www.aspen.review/article/2021/is-the-witcher-slavic/

It's fairly long, but here's the conclusion:
Quote
Perhaps Geralt of Rivia is not Slavic after all. But he certainly is Central European, just like his creator.

EDIT: And there's this: https://www.reddit.com/r/netflixwitcher/comments/cfinui/does_anyone_else_feel_the_lack_of_slavic_inspired/euc0ih0?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
Quote
And Sapkowski himself said - "There was an interpretation which Ziemkiewicz once forced onto me in an interview - that the Slavic elements in Witcher were key of its success. I agreed then shyly, but to this day I can't understand what's so Slavic about Witcher, maybe apart from the fact that I used a plot pattern of a tale about a striga, which Zmorski put in his compilation of folk tales."
« Last Edit: April 12, 2021, 11:00:30 AM by BoxCrayonTales »

SHARK

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Re: Diversity is not a Virtue: Don't play the SJW game
« Reply #526 on: April 12, 2021, 02:39:21 PM »
I found another article by a Polish journalist asking "Is the Witcher Slavic?" https://www.aspen.review/article/2021/is-the-witcher-slavic/

It's fairly long, but here's the conclusion:
Quote
Perhaps Geralt of Rivia is not Slavic after all. But he certainly is Central European, just like his creator.

EDIT: And there's this: https://www.reddit.com/r/netflixwitcher/comments/cfinui/does_anyone_else_feel_the_lack_of_slavic_inspired/euc0ih0?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
Quote
And Sapkowski himself said - "There was an interpretation which Ziemkiewicz once forced onto me in an interview - that the Slavic elements in Witcher were key of its success. I agreed then shyly, but to this day I can't understand what's so Slavic about Witcher, maybe apart from the fact that I used a plot pattern of a tale about a striga, which Zmorski put in his compilation of folk tales."

Greetings!

Interesting reads, BCT. I read the journalist's article you cited in the first link. Then, I read the Reddit discussion about the Netflix series. Mostly there seems to be lots of arguing back in forth over "Is Witcher Slavic? or Central European?" and by what degree, blah, blah, blah. Some arguing yes, while others argue no, and still others arguing over the teaspoon measurements of Slavic myth, European myth, generic fantasy myth, and on and on.

Like with so much in literature--or music--it comes down to individual interpretation, and what elements one chooses to emphasize or not, and to what degree.

It's always fun to see the huge controversies inspired by a book. ;D

Meanwhile, we have SJW's that have attacked the book and game as being "Racist", and all-white! They hate the fact that the book is centered in a Slavic environment.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK
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Re: Diversity is not a Virtue: Don't play the SJW game
« Reply #527 on: April 12, 2021, 06:37:14 PM »
Witcher (at least the show) certainly strikes me as being much more Generic Postmodern Western Fantasy with a few Slavic Stylyings.


It definitely doesn't pass the Polish Medieval Authentic test.
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Shasarak

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Re: Diversity is not a Virtue: Don't play the SJW game
« Reply #528 on: April 12, 2021, 06:40:54 PM »
It definitely doesn't pass the Polish Medieval Authentic test.

Which, if I remember correctly, involves dunking the RPG under water and seeing if it drowns or not.
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BoxCrayonTales

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Re: Diversity is not a Virtue: Don't play the SJW game
« Reply #529 on: April 13, 2021, 03:33:46 PM »
Does worrying about whether a work passes some imaginary Slavic purity test make me racist?

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Re: Diversity is not a Virtue: Don't play the SJW game
« Reply #530 on: April 13, 2021, 09:38:53 PM »
Does worrying about whether a work passes some imaginary Slavic purity test make me racist?

No, not at all. I'm just saying it's only about as Polish Medieval Authentic as most English fantasy is "English Medieval Authentic". Which is to say, not very much at all.
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ScytheSong

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Re: Diversity is not a Virtue: Don't play the SJW game
« Reply #531 on: April 13, 2021, 09:49:35 PM »
Does worrying about whether a work passes some imaginary Slavic purity test make me racist?

No, not at all. I'm just saying it's only about as Polish Medieval Authentic as most English fantasy is "English Medieval Authentic". Which is to say, not very much at all.

What, no Sarmatisms? Long coats and tiny sabres are such a good look, too.... :P

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Re: Diversity is not a Virtue: Don't play the SJW game
« Reply #532 on: April 16, 2021, 05:56:11 PM »
Oh I don't know, I think my ancestors in the Polish nobility looked pretty badass:









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Re: Diversity is not a Virtue: Don't play the SJW game
« Reply #533 on: April 16, 2021, 06:00:03 PM »
Note that szabla was not particularly tiny.
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ScytheSong

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Re: Diversity is not a Virtue: Don't play the SJW game
« Reply #534 on: April 16, 2021, 10:44:38 PM »
Note that szabla was not particularly tiny.
If I remember correctly the szabla worn at court to mark yourself as a noble was ~30cm shorter than a cavalry sabre that would be actually taken into combat, but yes, your point is taken. :D