There's a Mirror On the Wall

*screams into a pillow so as not to frighten the cats*

So. I'm going to make this clear here, since I had a reminder elsewhere that some people think they're entitled to tell an artist everything that's "wrong" with a piece, in said artist's own space.

If someone does not EXPLICITLY consent to criticism on a piece of art - whether that is writing, traditional media art, digital art, fiber art, ANY ART - then criticising their work to their face is FUCKING RUDE. And a violation of their boundaries and a blatent failure to obtain consent.

Art existing in the world is NOT consent to criticism. No, not even so-called constructive criticism.

I very explicitly DO NOT consent to criticism on ANYTHING I post to AO3. Or publically here or on my fic com.

If I want critical feedback on works posted to my circle only (or to members only on my fic com), I will ASK for it (there's a tag for it, even!). The only exception to that is for specific people who I have known for years, either online or in brickspace or both. Who hopefully already know who they are, as I have asked them for critical feedback privately.

And that is the explicit laying out of my boundary on feedback. Just so everyone is clear on it.

*thumps head lightly on desk*

Thank you people who commented, for judging a woman of color by standards that are entirely different from the concept of honor and fair play that she grew up with and operates by - and then call her a cheat and dishonorable because she didn't play by your rules. Thank you for telling me that my character is a bad person because I didn't write her to the cultural standards you grew up with, and doesn't obey your ethnocentrism.

....

Actually, on second thought - well, first, really - fuck you two and your ethnocentrism, and possibly racism, because I haven't gotten negative comments on any of the female characters I've written who aren't explicitly of color, regardless of the behavior they engage in - and some of them act far worse, including being actively evil.

*takes a deep breath*

I was far more polite in my responses to the comments that are now annoying me, but really. At least the first of the two was more questioning how the ethics they were commenting on worked, and why the behavior was perfectly within the bounds of honor. The second, that I woke up to? Straight out judgement call, and dude, no. Fuck no. And considering Themba is the only character I've noted as being of color - there are others I consider of color, but haven't made it blatant - I can't help but think that part of it is because she is a woman of color (or maybe because she's paired off with Éomer?).

I think once I have the Star Wars WIP finished, I am going to go prod at my muses for War-Consort and do more with the world-building on that. Because maybe I'm wrong, and it's just that I haven't posted enough of the story with the world-building elements, and not because the main character is a woman of color.

And in it, there is an image, and I wanted to reach through the internet and strangle someone.

( and you want to know why? )