6.09.2008
Injecting a Stereotype into Stereotype-busting Story
Yesterday ABC News posted a story from London concerning an ambitious "living library" project, the goal of which is to eradicate prejudices and stereotypes concerning different cultural, ethnic, and religious minorities.
"Welcome to the Living Library. Here, you borrow individuals who represent stereotypes that often are the target of prejudice or hatred. At this east London library on a recent Saturday, there were 26 "books" available, including a Muslim, an immigrant, a transgender individual, a witch and an Indian atheist. Readers borrow them for half an hour, hear their narrative, question them, even pry a little, and -- so the theory goes -- break down some of their preconceptions and stop "judging the book by the cover." The idea is the brainchild of Ronni Abergel, a Danish antiviolence campaigner, who has taken the Living Library to 12 countries and watched it flourish in places as diverse as Australia and Turkey."
While the story itself does a decent job explaining the Living Library project, and it various successes and challenges across Europe, the ABC staff illustrator seemed to not get the memo.
"Muslim and Witch", (ABC News Photo Illustration)
While the "Muslim" shadow is simply a man with a nicely trimmed beard, the "Witch" shadow is wearing the traditional Halloween-witch pointy hat. While some modern Witches do occasionally wear the wide-brimmed conical hat for fun, they are hardly an indicator for allegiance to Wicca or other forms of religious Witchcraft.
Because most Witches and Pagans are relatively easy-going, I doubt there will be much of an uproar over the illustration (nor am I calling for one), but the irony of injecting a visual stereotype into a story about eradicating stereotypes strikes me as downright satirical. Better luck next time ABC.
Labels: ABC News, Living Library, Paganism, stereotypes, UK, Wicca, Witch, Witchcraft
